Degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by a strain of Pseudomonas fluorescens 16N2

The growth of Pseudomonas fluorescens 16N2 on naphthalene was accompanied with accumulation of salicylate in the culture medium and induction of gentisate 1,2-dioxygenase and catechol 1,2-dioxygenase. The transformation of anthracene by the cells growing on hexadecane led to the formation of 3-hydroxy-2-naphthoate and salicylate. Pathways for naphthalene and anthracene degradation are proposed.