Reductive cleavage of demeton-S-methyl by Corynebacterium glutamicum in cometabolism on more readily metabolizable substrates.

Corynebacterium glutamicum is able to biotransform demeton-S-methyl, an organophosphorus compound, during cometabolism with more readily metabolizable substrates. Among the cosubstrates used, fructose is the growth substrate that is most favorable for demeton-S-methyl biotransformation. The reaction mechanism of demeton-S-methyl biotransformation involves reductive cleavage of an S-C bond, which leads to accumulation of dimethyl thiophosphate in the culture medium.