Involvement of Two Plasmids in Fenitrothion Degradation by Burkholderia sp. Strain NF100

Abstract
A bacterium capable of utilizing fenitrothion ( O , O -dimethyl O -4-nitro- m -tolyl phosphorothioate) as a sole carbon source was isolated from fenitrothion-treated soil. This bacterium was characterized taxonomically as being a member of the genus Burkholderia and was designated strain NF100. NF100 first hydrolyzed an organophosphate bond of fenitrothion, forming 3-methyl-4-nitrophenol, which was further metabolized to methylhydroquinone. The ability to degrade fenitrothion was found to be encoded on two plasmids, pNF1 and pNF2.