Abstract
Mycobacterium sp. strain KR2 utilizes phenanthrene and pyrene as the sole sources of carbon and energy. Its pathway for phenanthrene degradation is branched. Besides complete degradation following the Aeromonas-pathway phenanthrene is metabolized via cis-9,10-phenanthrene dihydrodiol to diphenic acid which accumulates during incubation. Both substances are not described as bacterial metabolites of phenanthrene as of yet.