Aims: To establish if tetradecyltrimethylammonium (TDTMA) might be degraded by pure culture of Pseudomonas strains, and how the presence of a Lewis' acid in the medium influences its biodegradability.
Methods and results: From different strains of Pseudomonas screened, only Pseudomonas putida A ATCC 12633 grows with 50 mg l(-1) of TDTMA as the sole carbon and nitrogen source. A monooxygenase activity catalyzed the initial step of the biodegradation. The trimethylamine (TMA) produced was used as nitrogen source or accumulated inside the cell. To decrease the intracellular TMA, the culture was divided, and 0.1 mmol l(-1) AlCl(3) added. In this way, the growth and TDTMA consumption increased. The internal concentration of TMA, determined using the fluorochrome Morin, decreased by the formation of Al(3+) : TMA complex.
Conclusions: Pseudomonas putida utilized TDTMA as its sole carbon and nitrogen source. The TMA produced in the initial step of the biodegradation by a monooxygenase activity was used as nitrogen source or accumulated inside the cell, affecting the bacterial growth. This effect was alleviated by the addition of AlCl(3).
Significance and impact of the study: The use of Lewis' acids to sequester intracellular amines offers an alternative to achieve an efficient utilization of TDTMA by Ps. putida.