MODE OF ATTACK ON PHENOL BY A MICROCOCCUS SP. ISOLATED FROM COIR RETS

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Abstract
Phenol enrichments of coir rets resulted in the isolation of Pseudomonas desmolytica, Pseudomonas fragi, Pseudomonas dacunhae, and Micrococcus varians. The inducible phenol hydroxylase of M. varians obtained in a crude form showed maximal activity at pH 7.5. Evidence was adduced to show that the ring-cleaving enzyme of M. varians was of the metapyrocatechase type. The M. varians strains when cultured in phenol medium elaborated a diffusible melanin-like pigment. Ethyl acetate soluble fraction of the pigment was identified as 3,4,3′,4′-tetrahydroxy diphenyl. The effect of certain aromatic compounds and copper binders on pigmentation was investigated.