Acidovorax sp. JS42

Acidovorax sp. is an aerobic mesophillic Gram-negative bacterium phylogenetically associated with the beta subdivision of the Proteobacteria. It is formerly known as Pseudomonas sp. JS42. This nitroaromatic compound-degrader organism was isolated from nitrobenzene-contaminated sediment and is capable of using 2-nitrotolulene as a sole carbon and energy source. 2-nitrotolulene, a nitroaromatic compound, is used in the manufacture of dyes, pigments and explosives. Nitroaromatic compounds, which contain an aromatic ring with one or more nitro groups attached, are a significant contaminant in industrial soils. Acidovorax sp. JS42 degrades 2-nitrotolulene by first removing the nitro moiety producing 3-methylcatechol. The enzyme involved in this process, 2-nitrotolulene dioxygenase, has been purified and characterized. The genome sequence of this organism will provide information about the gene content of a free-living species with a catabolic capacity relevant to bioremediation of nitroaromatic-contaminated soils. (EBI Integr8)