Gene sequences of the pcpB gene of pentachlorophenol-degrading Sphingomonas chlorophenolica found in nondegrading bacteria.

Bacteria isolated from a pentachlorophenol (PCP) contaminated site grew in the presence of 50 micrograms PCP/mL but were not able to degrade it in either liquid medium or the presence of 1% sterile potting soil as a solid support. Probes developed using the gene sequence of PCP-4-monooxygenase (pcpB) from Sphingomonas chlorophenolica sp.nov hybridized to two separate isolates. Identification based on fatty acid methyl ester profiles (Sherlock), substrate utilization (BIOLOG), and 16S rRNA showed that the two strains were different from each other and from Sphingomonas chlorophenolica. Sequences from these isolates, amplified by polymerase chain reaction, confirmed the homology with pcpB. The presence of pcpB sequences in these nondegraders indicated that growth and hybridization data alone were insufficient for predicting degradation capability.