Construction and characterization of heavy metal-resistant haloaromatic-degrading Alcaligenes eutrophus strains.

Alcaligenes eutrophus strains exhibiting both plasmid-borne heavy metal resistance and haloaromatic-degrading functions were obtained by intraspecific conjugation. The strains which we constructed expressed catabolic and resistance markers together. Degradation of various polychlorinated biphenyl isomers and 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid) was observed in the presence of 1 mM nickel or 2 mM zinc, provided that the metal resistance determinant was present in the catabolizing strain. Such strains may be useful for decontamination of sites that are polluted with both organic compounds and heavy metals.