A gram-negative bacterium strain AS assimilating disodium terephthalate as the sole carbon and energy sources was isolated from soil. The strain AS grew aerobically and produced a yellow metabolite (λmax=405.6nm) with growth. The metabolite fluoresenced a light blue color by irradiating ultraviolet light of wavelength 365 nm with UV lamp. The metabolite was stable on heating at 100°C. The molecular weight was below 10, 000.
