Naphthalene degradation involves a series of enzymatic reactionsin which bacteria use as both a carbon and energy source. Naphthalene, a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), enters bacterial cells by passive diffusion across the cell membrane due to its hydrophobicity. Once within the cell, naphthalene is activated by the enzyme naphthalene dioxygenase, which produces cis-1,2-dihydroxynaphthalene. This intermediate is further metabolized by a series of enzymatic reactions, including ring cleavage, hydroxylation, and oxidation, to produce metabolites such as Gentisate and Catechol, which enter the Tyrosine metabolism and benzoate degradation pathways for energy generation and biosynthesis.

Naphthalene degradation References