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Biodegradation of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane: Intermediates in dichlorodiphenylacetic acid metabolism by Aerobacter aerogenes

January 1, 1967

The final product of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) degradation by vertebrates is commonly considered to be dichlorodiphenylacetic acid, DDA (J. E. Peterson and W. H. Robison, Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 6:321, 1964). Recently, certain organisms (A. S. Perry, S. Miller, and A. J. Buckner. J. Agr. Food Chem. 11:457, 1963; J. D. Pinto, M. N. Comien, and M. S. Dunn. J. Biol. Chem. 240:2148, 1965) have been found to degrade further DDA to dichlorobenzophenone (DBP), but the possibility that such degradation was due to microbial action could not be excluded. Significantly, dichlorobenzhydrol (DBH), dichlorophenylmethane (DPM), and dichlorodiphenylethylene (DDE) have been tentatively identified in rats fed DDA (Pinto et al., J. Biol. Chem. 240:2148, 1965). Since DDA as well as DDT is degraded by the ubiquitous microorganism Aerobacter aerogenes (G. Wedemeyer, Appl. Microbiol. 15:569, 1967; J. L. Mendel, and M. S. Walton, Science 151:1527, 1966), it seemed reasonable that the intestinal microflora might be involved in DBP formation, DPM and DBH being intermediates in its pathway from DDA. Since DDA is a (3,y-unsaturated acid, ketone formation via an alkene and an alcohol would be expected (S. G. Waley, Mechanisms of Organic and Enzymatic Reactions, Oxford University Press, London, England 1962).

Publication Year 1967
Title Biodegradation of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane: Intermediates in dichlorodiphenylacetic acid metabolism by Aerobacter aerogenes
DOI 10.1128/am.15.6.1494-1495.1967
Authors Gary Wedemeyer
Publication Type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Series Title Applied Microbiology
Index ID 70161814
Record Source USGS Publications Warehouse
USGS Organization Western Fisheries Research Center