Sphingomonas sp. A novel microbial resource for biodegradation of aromatic compounds

Widely distributed Sphingomonas sp., a novel and abundant microbial resource for biodegradation of aromatic compounds, has potential use in environment protection and industrial production for it possesses high catabolic capabilities and diverse substrates for macromolecular refractory compounds, such as PAHs and hexachlorobenzene isomers. As a result of little awareness of Sphingomonas sp., its ecological and economical values are not well understood, and related research still remains at initial stage. This paper reviews the research of Sphingomonas sp. since it has been discovered, including the studies on its physiological and biochemical characteristics, taxonomy, synthesis of biopolymers, peculiar sphingolipids, genes and enzymes. In addition, some problems and methods for further research of Sphingomonas sp. are discussed.