A bacterium that assimilates 2,3-dichloro-l-propanol was isolated from soil by enrichment culture. The strain was identified as Pseudomonas sp. by the taxonomic studies. The strain converted 2,3-dichloro-l-propanol to 3-chloro-l,2-propanediol, releasing chloride ion. The conversion was stereospecific because the residual 2,3-dichloro-l-propanol and formed 3-chloro-l,2-propanediol gave optical rotation. The resting cells converted various halohydrins to the dehalogenated alcohols, and cell-free extracts had strong epoxyhydrolase activity. These results indicated that the strain assimilated 2,3-dichloro-l-propanol via 3-chloro-l,2-propanediol, glycidol, and glycerol. The possibility to manufacture optically active 2,3-dichloro-l-propanol is discussed. Large amounts of halogenated compounds have been widely used for solvents, starting materials for resins, polymers, agrochemicals, and Pharmaceuticals.1} Microorganisms capable of degradation of various halogenated compounds have been isolated and characterized.2) However, studies on interaction of low halogenated aliphatic compounds and microorganisms are rather limited. Brunner et al. isolated a bacterium using dichloromethane as the sole carbon source,3) and Stucki et al. have reported bacterial growth on 1,2-dichloro-ethane,4) but there is a little known in this field yet. Further study is needed to understand these interactions.
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