Adaptation of Pseudomonas putida S12 to high concentrations of styrene and other organic solvents.

Pseudomonas putida S12 could adapt to grow on styrene in a two-phase styrene-water system. Acetate was toxic for P. putida S12, but cells were similarly able to adapt to higher acetate concentrations. Only by using these acetate-adapted cells was growth observed in the presence of supersaturating concentrations of toxic nonmetabolizable solvents such as toluene.