Title: Phthalic acid and pyridine dicarboxylic acids as catabolic analogs
Abstract: The prevalence of bacteria in the environment that catabolise synthetic phthalic acids (PAs) might be related to the natural occurrence of pyridine dicarboxylic acids (PDCAs). However, the bacterial metabolism of o-phthalic acid (phthalic acid) and its PDCA analogs was mostly exclusive. An exception was the oxidation of 2:3 and 3:4-PDCAs by a marine bacterium (Strain OP-1) when grown on phthalic acid. The metabolism of PDCAs by Strain OP-1 was induced by phthalic acid and, as for phthalate catabolism, the metabolism of 2:3-PDCA required Na+ ions.