A gram-negative anaerobic bacterium that utilizes O-methyl substituents of aromatic acids

A novel strain of gram-negative anaerobic rods which utilized O-methyl substituents of monoaromatic acids as a sole source of carbon was isolated from municipal sewage sludge. Energy for growth seemed to be generated by an acetate formation pathway. The growth yield in defined medium was 7.9 g (dry weight) of cells per mol of ferulate utilized. This isolate and other O-demethylating anaerobes may play a role in the turnover of acetate and the metabolism of highly methoxylated lignaceous materials in anaerobic environments.