Characterization of Pyrogallol Production from Gallic acid by Enterobacter spp.

A bacterial strain, isolated from soil, and identified as Enterobacter spp., showed an inducible gallic acid decarboxylase activity producing pyrogallol from gallic acid. The aim of this study was to optimize the culture conditions for pyrogallol production in Enterobacter spp. induced by gallic acid. Bacteria were grown in carbon deficient medium (CDM) using 0.2% gallic acid as a carbon source. The maximal production of pyrogallol was observed when the bacterium was cultured at 30°C for 20 hrs in a medium containing 0.2 % gallic acid, 30 mM phosphate buffer at pH 6.6, 0.4 % (NH4)2SO4 and 0.05% MgSO4. The other parameters optimized were incubation temperature, agitation speed and Inoculum size. Gallic acid degradation and pyrogallol formation was determined by UPLC. Keywords: Enterobacter spp.; GAD Activity (Gallic acid decarboxylase Activity); Pyrogallol; UPLC (Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography).