The mechanisms and biochemistry involved in the biodegradation of NDMA were studied. It was found that induction of soluble methane monooxygenase (sMMO) expressed by Methysolinus trichosporium OB3b, the propane monooxygenase (PMO) of Mycobacterium vaccae JOB-5, and the toluene 4-monooxygenases found in Ralstonia pickettii PH01 and Pseudomonas mendocina KR1 caused these microorganisms to degrade NDMA. Exposure to acetylene inhibited NDMA degradation. Escherichia coli TG1/ pBS(Kan) mimicked the behavior of the parent strains. However, M trichosporium, Burkholderia cepacia G4, and Pseudomonas putida mt-2 did not degrade NDMA. Rhodococcus sp. RR1 degraded NDMA but by different mechanism.
