Genome sequencing of the TBA-degrading Hydrogenophaga sp. T4. Hydrogenophaga sp. T4 strain:T4

As part of a larger initiative we screened for bacteria which can degrade fuel oxygenates. This included testing for MTBE-, ETBE-, DIPE- as well as TBA-degradation. TBA is the metabolic intermediate of MTBE and ETBE, also used as fuel additive and is carcinogenic. There is only one enzyme described from Aquincola tertiaricarbonis L108 which can degrade TBA. Identification of ortholog genes may provide information about conserved residues and allows designing PCR primers for diagnostic purposes.