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 organic 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.