Biodegradation of Eugenol by Bacillus Cereus Strain PN24

Bacillus cereus PN24 was isolated from soil by a conventional enrichment culture method using eugenol as a sole source of carbon and energy. The organism also utilized eugenol, 4‐vinyl guaiacol, vanillin, vanillic acid and protocatechuic acid as growth substrates. The organism degraded eugenol to protocatechuic acid, which was further metabolized by a β‐ketoadipate pathway. On the other hand, the intermediate of the eugenol‐degrading pathway, such as ferulic acid was not detected in the culture medium as an intermediate, as evidenced by isolation and identification of metabolites and enzyme activities in the cell‐free extract. Such a bacterial strain could be used for phenolic environmental clean‐up given optimal nutrient conditions.