Characteristics of biodegradation of indole by Streptomyces sp.

Streptomyces sp. HJ02 can use indole as the sole carbon source for growth. The effects of initial concentration of indole,added glucose,pH and temperature on the biodegradation of indole by Streptomyces sp. HJ02 were examined. The main metabolic pathways and mechanism of indole degradation by HJ02 strain are discussed. The results showed that Streptomyces sp. HJ02 has a rather strong capacity to biodegrade indole. The Streptomyces sp. HJ02 degraded nearly 300 mg·L-1 of indole within 6 days under the optimum conditions of pH=7,and 30℃. The degradation kinetics of indole by Streptomyces sp. HJ02 could be fitted adequately to an Andrews equation. Adding glucose decreased the degradation rate of indole by Streptomyces sp. HJ02,showing competitive inhibition between glucose and the indole substrate. The ultraviolet-visible spectra and GC chromatogram showed that the characteristic ring of indole was broken down by Streptomyces sp.