Aerobic growth of Escherichia coli with 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) as the sole nitrogen source and evidence of TNT denitration by whole cells and cell-free extracts.

Escherichia coli grew aerobically with 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) as sole nitrogen source and caused TNT's partial denitration. This reaction was enhanced in nongrowing cell suspensions with 0.516 mol nitrite released per mol TNT. Cell extracts denitrated TNT in the presence of NAD(P)H. Isomers of amino-dimethyl-tetranitrobiphenyl were detected and confirmed with U-15N-labeled TNT