Abstract
A bacterium Stenotrophomonas sp. TRMK2 capable of utilizing cinnamic acid was isolated from agro-industrial waste by enrichment culture technique. This strain completely utilizes 5 mM cinnamic acid within 18 h of incubation. The different metabolites formed during the degradation of cinnamic acid were characterized by GC-HRMS. The involvement of various enzymes, namely cinnamate reductase, 3-phenylpropionic acid hydroxylase, p-hydroxybenzoic acid hydroxylase and protocatechuate 3,4-dioxygenase in cinnamic acid degradation was demonstrated. A catabolic pathway for cinnamic acid in Stenotrophomonas sp. TRMK2 is as follows: Cinnamic acid; 3-Phenylpropionic acid; 3-(4-Hydroxyphenyl) propionic acid; 4-Hydroxy benzoic acid and Protocatechuic acid. Further, this strain is capable of utilizing various phenolic compounds.