Transformation of chlororesorcinol by the hydrocarbonoclastic yeasts Candida maltosa, Candida tropicalis, and Trichosporon oivide.

The inhibitory effects of chlorinated monoaromatic compounds on three hydrocarbonoclastic yeasts grown on glucose or resorcinol were examined. At concentrations of 1.0 M, all of the monoaromatic compounds were inhibitory. When the concentration of chlororesorcinol was significantly reduced (0.0005 M), the inhibition to each yeast was minimized. Extracts of the cultures of yeasts growing on resorcinol plus chlororesorcinol were analyzed for residual resorcinol and chlororesorcinol with high pressure liquid chromatography. Neither compound was detected in the culture broth of Candida maltosa, but several unidentified compounds were present. Only chlororesorcinol was detected in the culture broth of Trichosporon oivide, and both resorcinol and chlororesorcinol were present in extract from cultures of C. tropicalis. Cultures of C. maltosa grown on resorcinol-yeast nitrogen base, washed and suspended in phosphate buffer and subsequently incubated with chlororesorcinol, turned the culture broth a distinct pink color. The data indicate that C. maltosa has the potential to co-metabolize chlororesorcinol.