Characterization of napthalene-degrading pseudomonas species isolated from pollutant-contaminated sites: Oxidative stress during their growth on napthalene

Four naphthalene-degrading bacteria (Pseudomonas sp. strains O1, W1, As1, and G1) were isolated from pollutant-contaminated sites. Examination of their substrate utilization and analyses of key naphthalene-catabolic regulatory genes revealed that the pathway and regulation of naphthalene-degradation in all four strains resemble those of NAH7 from P. putida G7. Superoxide anion production, superoxide dismutase activity, and catalase activity during their growth on naphthalene-amended medium increased significantly, compared with those with glucose-amended medium. Addition of ascorbate, an antioxidant, or ferrous iron (Fe²⁺) increased the growth rates of all tested microorganisms on naphthalene. Northern blot and HPLC analyses showed that both nahA gene expression and naphthalene degradation increased under those conditions. Our data suggest that naphthalene degradation can impose severe oxidative stress, and defenses against oxidative stress would play an important role in the metabolism of naphthalene.