Tolumonas auensis DSM 9187

Tolumonas auensis (strain DSM 9187 / TA4) is a toluene-producing nonmotile Gram-negative bacterium isolated from anoxic sediments of a freshwater lake. Toluene is produced from phenylalanine, phenylpyruvate, phenyllactate, and phenylacetate, and phenol is produced from tyrosine. Both the presence of a carbon source and the presence of a toluene precursor are essential for initiation of toluene production. Toluene is accumulated during the course of the year in the hypolimnion of a eutrophic lake, and accumulation begins as soon as stratification of the water occurs and anoxic conditions are established. The optimum temperature and pH for growth are 22 degrees Celsius and pH 7.2, respectively. Bacterial growth occurs under oxic and anoxic conditions. Acetate, ethanol, and formate are the major fermentation products of the bacterium when it grows on glucose. The major lipoquinones are ubiquinone 8 and menaquinone 8 under both oxic and anoxic growth conditions. (Adaptated from 8573493). (EBI Integr8)