Identification and expression of benzylsuccinate synthase genes in a toluene-degrading methanogenic consortium

Benzylsuccinate synthase (BSS) initiates anaerobic toluene biodegradation, and BSS genes have been found in several nitrate- and iron-reducing organisms. Here, two new putative bssA genes were identified in a methanogenic toluene-degrading culture. Transcription was upregulated with toluene but not with benzoate, consistent with the proposed function. These are the first bss sequences from a methanogenic culture.