Biodegradation of Eugenol by Bacillus Cereus Strain PN24

Bacillus cereus strain PN24 was isolated from soil by a conventional enrichment culture method using eugenol as a sole source of carbon and energy. The organism also utilized eugenol, 4-vinyl guaiacol, vanillin, vanillic acid and protocatechuic acid as growth substrates. The organism degraded eugenol to protocatechuic acid, which was further metabolized by a beta-ketoadipate pathway. On the other hand, the intermediate of the eugenol-degrading pathway, such as ferulic acid was not detected in the culture medium as an intermediate, as evidenced by isolation and identification of metabolites and enzyme activities in the cell-free extract. Such a bacterial strain could be used for phenolic environmental clean-up given optimal nutrient conditions.