Metabolism of 2,2'-dihydroxybiphenyl by Pseudomonas sp. strain HBP1: production and consumption of 2,2',3-trihydroxybiphenyl.

Cells of Pseudomonas sp. strain HBP1 grown on 2-hydroxy- or 2,2'-dihydroxybiphenyl contain NADH-dependent monooxygenase activity that hydroxylates 2,2'-dihydroxybiphenyl. The product of this reaction was identified as 2,2',3-trihydroxybiphenyl by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry. Furthermore, the monooxygenase activity also hydroxylates 2,2',3-trihydroxybiphenyl at the C-3' position, yielding 2,2',3,3'-tetrahydroxybiphenyl as a product. An estradiol ring cleavage dioxygenase activity that acts on both 2,2',3-tri- and 2,2',3,3'-tetrahydroxybiphenyl was partially purified. Both substrates yielded yellow meta-cleavage compounds that were identified as 2-hydroxy-6-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-6-oxo-2,4-hexadienoic acid and 2-hydroxy-6-(2,3-dihydroxyphenyl)-6-oxo-2,4-hexadienoic acid, respectively, by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of their respective trimethylsilyl derivatives. The meta-cleavage products were not stable in aqueous incubation mixtures but gave rise to their cyclization products, 3-(chroman-4-on-2-yl)pyruvate and 3-(8-hydroxychroman-4-on-2-yl)pyruvate, respectively. In contrast to the meta-cleavage compounds, which were turned over to salicylic acid and 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid, the cyclization products are not substrates to the meta-cleavage product hydrolase activity. NADH-dependent salicylate monooxygenase activity catalyzed the conversions of salicylic acid and 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid to catechol and pyrogallol, respectively. The partially purified estradiol ring cleavage dioxygenase activity that acted on the hydroxybiphenyls also produced 2-hydroxymuconic semialdehyde and 2-hydroxymuconic acid from catechol and pyrogallol, respectively.     

Purification of two isofunctional hydrolases (EC 3.7.1.8) in the degradative pathway for dibenzofuran inSphingomonas sp. strain RW1

Sphingomonas sp. strain RW1, when grown in salicylate-salts medium, synthesized the enzymes for the degradation of dibenzofuran. The reaction subsequent tometa cleavage of the first benzene ring was found to be catalyzed by two isofunctional hydrolases, H1 and H2, which were purified by chromatography on anion exchange, hydrophobic interaction and gel filtration media. Each enzyme was able to hydrolze 2-hydroxy-6-oxo-6-(2-hydroxyphenyl)hexa-2,4-dienoate and 2-hydroxy-6-oxo-6-phenylhexa-2,4-dienoate to produce salicylate and benzoate, respectively. SDS/PAGE of each purified enzyme showed a single band ofM _r 31 000 (H1) or 29 000 (H2). The N-terminal amino acid sequences of the two proteins showed 50% homology.Abbreviations DHB 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl - DSM German Culture Collection (Braunschweig) - FPLC protein liquid chromatograph(y) - HOHPDA 2-hydroxy-6-oxo-6-(2-hydroxyphenyl)hexa-2,4-dienoate - HOPDA 2-hydroxy-6-oxo-6-phenylhexa-2,4-dienoate - THB 2,2,3-trihydroxybiphenyl     

Biodegradation of 4-methyl-5-nitrocatechol by Pseudomonas sp. strain DNT.

Pseudomonas sp. strain DNT degrades 2,4-dinitrotoluene (DNT) by a dioxygenase attack at the 4,5 position with concomitant removal of the nitro group to yield 4-methyl-5-nitrocatechol (MNC). Here we describe the mechanism of removal of the nitro group from MNC and subsequent reactions leading to ring fission. Washed suspensions of DNT-grown cells oxidized MNC and 2,4,5-trihydroxytoluene (THT). Extracts prepared from DNT-induced cells catalyzed the disappearance of MNC in the presence of oxygen and NADPH. Partially purified MNC oxygenase oxidized MNC in a reaction requiring 1 mol of NADPH and 1 mol of oxygen per mol of substrate. The enzyme converted MNC to 2-hydroxy-5-methylquinone (HMQ), which was identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. HMQ was also detected transiently in culture fluids of cells grown on DNT. A quinone reductase was partially purified and shown to convert HMQ to THT in a reaction requiring NADH. A partially purified THT oxygenase catalyzed ring fission of THT and accumulation of a compound tentatively identified as 3-hydroxy-5-(1-formylethylidene)-2-furanone. Preliminary results indicate that this compound is an artifact of the isolation procedure and suggest that 2,4-dihydroxy-5-methyl-6-oxo-2,4-hexadienoic acid is the actual ring fission product.     

Biotransformation of Biphenyl by Paecilomyces lilacinus and Characterization of Ring Cleavage Products

We examined the pathway by which the fungicide biphenyl is metabolized in the imperfect fungus Paecilomyces lilacinus. The initial oxidation yielded the three monohydroxylated biphenyls. Further hydroxylation occurred on the first and the second aromatic ring systems, resulting in the formation of five di- and trihydroxylated metabolites. The fungus could cleave the aromatic structures, resulting in the transformation of biphenyl via ortho-substituted dihydroxybiphenyl to six-ring fission products. All compounds were characterized by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. These compounds include 2-hydroxy-4-phenylmuconic acid and 2-hydroxy-4-(4′-hydroxyphenyl)-muconic acid, which were produced from 3,4-dihydroxybiphenyl and further transformed to the corresponding lactones 4-phenyl-2-pyrone-6-carboxylic acid and 4-(4′-hydroxyphenyl)-2-pyrone-6-carboxylic acid, which accumulated in large amounts. Two additional ring cleavage products were identified as (5-oxo-3-phenyl-2,5-dihydrofuran-2-yl)-acetic acid and [5-oxo-3-(4′-hydroxyphenyl)-2,5-dihydrofuran-2-yl]-acetic acid. We found that P. lilacinus has a high transformation capacity for biphenyl, which could explain this organism's tolerance to this fungicide.     

Pseudomonas sp. strain HBP1 Prp degrades 2-isopropylphenol (ortho-cumenol) via meta cleavage.

Pseudomonas sp. strain HBP1 Prp grew on 2-isopropylphenol as the sole carbon and energy source with a maximal specific growth rate of 0.14 h-1 and transient accumulation of isobutyric acid. Oxygen uptake experiments with resting cells and enzyme assays with crude-cell extracts showed that 2-isopropylphenol was catabolized via a broad-spectrum meta cleavage pathway. These findings were confirmed by experiments with partially purified enzymes. Identification of 3-isopropylcatechol and 2-hydroxy-6-oxo-7-methylocta-2,4-dienoic acid as the products of the initial monooxygenase reaction and the subsequent extradiol ring cleavage dioxygenase reaction, respectively, was based on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of the corresponding trimethylsilyl derivatives. The meta cleavage product hydrolase hydrolyzed 2-hydroxy-6-oxo-7-methylocta-2,4-dienoic acid (meta cleavage product of 2-isopropylphenol) to isobutyric acid and 2-hydroxypent-2,4-dienoic acid.     

Novel Ring Cleavage Products in the Biotransformation of Biphenyl by the Yeast Trichosporon mucoides

The yeast Trichosporon mucoides, grown on either glucose or phenol, was able to transform biphenyl into a variety of mono-, di-, and trihydroxylated derivatives hydroxylated on one or both aromatic rings. While some of these products accumulated in the supernatant as dead end products, the ortho-substituted dihydroxylated biphenyls were substrates for further oxidation and ring fission. These ring fission products were identified by high-performance liquid chromatography, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and nuclear magnetic resonance analyses as phenyl derivatives of hydroxymuconic acids and the corresponding pyrones. Seven novel products out of eight resulted from the oxidation and ring fission of 3,4-dihydroxybiphenyl. Using this compound as a substrate, 2-hydroxy-4-phenylmuconic acid, (5-oxo-3-phenyl-2,5-dihydrofuran-2-yl)acetic acid, and 3-phenyl-2-pyrone-6-carboxylic acid were identified. Ring cleavage of 3,4,4′-trihydroxybiphenyl resulted in the formation of [5-oxo-3-(4′-hydroxyphenyl)-2,5-dihydrofuran-2-yl]acetic acid, 4-(4′-hydroxyphenyl)-2-pyrone-6-carboxylic acid, and 3-(4′-hydroxyphenyl)-2-pyrone-6-carboxylic acid. 2,3,4-Trihydroxybiphenyl was oxidized to 2-hydroxy-5-phenylmuconic acid, and 4-phenyl-2-pyrone-6-carboxylic acid was the transformation product of 3,4,5-trihydroxybiphenyl. All these ring fission products were considerably less toxic than the hydroxylated derivatives.     

Metabolism of dibenzo-p-dioxin by Sphingomonas sp. strain RW1.

In the course of our screening for dibenzo-p-dioxin-utilizing bacteria, a Sphingomonas sp. strain was isolated from enrichment cultures inoculated with water samples from the river Elbe. The isolate grew with both the biaryl ethers dibenzo-p-dioxin and dibenzofuran (DF) as the sole sources of carbon and energy, showing doubling times of about 8 and 5 h, respectively. Biodegradation of the two aromatic compounds initially proceeded after an oxygenolytic attack at the angular position adjacent to the ether bridge, producing 2,2',3-trihydroxydiphenyl ether or 2,2',3-trihydroxybiphenyl from the initially formed dihydrodiols, which represent extremely unstable hemiacetals. Results obtained from determinations of enzyme activities and oxygen consumption suggest meta cleavage of the trihydroxy compounds. During dibenzofuran degradation, hydrolysis of 2-hydroxy-6-oxo-6-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-hexa-2,4-dienoate yielded salicylate, which was branched into the catechol meta cleavage pathway and the gentisate pathway. Catechol obtained from the product of meta ring fission of 2,2',3-trihydroxydiphenyl ether was both ortho and meta cleaved by Sphingomonas sp. strain RW1 when this organism was grown with dibenzo-p-dioxin.     

Metabolism of dibenzo-p-dioxin by Sphingomonas sp. strain RW1.

In the course of our screening for dibenzo-p-dioxin-utilizing bacteria, a Sphingomonas sp. strain was isolated from enrichment cultures inoculated with water samples from the river Elbe. The isolate grew with both the biaryl ethers dibenzo-p-dioxin and dibenzofuran (DF) as the sole sources of carbon and energy, showing doubling times of about 8 and 5 h, respectively. Biodegradation of the two aromatic compounds initially proceeded after an oxygenolytic attack at the angular position adjacent to the ether bridge, producing 2,2',3-trihydroxydiphenyl ether or 2,2',3-trihydroxybiphenyl from the initially formed dihydrodiols, which represent extremely unstable hemiacetals. Results obtained from determinations of enzyme activities and oxygen consumption suggest meta cleavage of the trihydroxy compounds. During dibenzofuran degradation, hydrolysis of 2-hydroxy-6-oxo-6-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-hexa-2,4-dienoate yielded salicylate, which was branched into the catechol meta cleavage pathway and the gentisate pathway. Catechol obtained from the product of meta ring fission of 2,2',3-trihydroxydiphenyl ether was both ortho and meta cleaved by Sphingomonas sp. strain RW1 when this organism was grown with dibenzo-p-dioxin.     

Biodegradation of Dibenzo-p-dioxin, Dibenzofuran, and Chlorodibenzo-p-dioxins by Pseudomonas veronii PH-03

The dioxin-degrading strain Pseudomonas veronii PH-03 was isolated from contaminated soil by selective enrichment techniques. Strain PH-03 grew on dibenzo-p-dioxin and dibenzofuran as a sole carbon source. Further, 1-chlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, 2-chlorodibenzo-p-dioxin and other dioxin metabolites, salicylic acid, and catechol were also metabolized well. Resting cells of strain PH-03 transformed dibenzo-p-dioxin, dibenzofuran, 2,2',3-trihydroxybiphenyl, and some chlorodioxins to their corresponding metabolic intermediates such as catechol, salicylic acid, 2-hydroxy-(2-hydroxyphenoxy)-6-oxo-2,4-hexadienoic acid, and chlorocatechols. The formation of these metabolites was confirmed by comparison of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) data with those of authentic compounds. Although we did observe the production of 3,4,5,6-tetrachlorocatechol (3,4,5,6-TECC) from 1,2,3,4-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (1,2,3,4-TCDD) with resting cell suspensions of PH-03, growth of strain PH-03 in the presence of 1,2,3,4-TCDD was poor. This result suggests that strain PH-03 is unable to utilize 3,4,5,6-TECC, even at very low concentration (0.01 mM) due to its toxicity. In cell-free extracts of DF-grown cells, 2,2',3-trihydroxybiphenyl dioxygenase, 2-hydroxy-6-oxo-6-phenyl-2,4-hexadienoic acid hydrolase, and catechol-2,3-dioxygense activities were detected. Moreover, the activities of meta-pyrocatechase and 2,2',3-trihydroxybiphenyl dioxygenase from the crude cell-free extracts were inhibited by 3-chlorocatechol. However, no inhibition was observed in intact cells when 3-chlorocatechol was formed as intermediate.     

2,3-Dihydroxybenzoate pathway in Pseudomonas putida. 1H n.m.r. study on the ring-cleavage site.

1. Ring cleavage of 2,3-dihydroxybenzoate by cell-free extracts of Pseudomonas putida leads to 2-hydroxy-6-oxo-(2Z,4E)-hexa-2,4-dienoic acid and CO2. 2. The 1H n.m.r. spectrum of the ring-fission product obtained in a 2H2O solution suggests that the extra-diol cleavage occurs between C-3 and C-4.     

Isolation and Characterization of Dibenzofuran-Degrading <Emphasis Type="Italic">Serratia marcescens</Emphasis> from Alkalophilic Bacterial Consortium of the Chemostat

Alkalophilic bacterial consortium developed by continuous enrichment in the chemostat in presence of 4-chlorosalicylic acid as sole source of carbon and energy contained six bacterial strains, Micrococcus luteus (csa101), Deinococcus radiothilus (csa102), csa103 (Burkholderia gladioli), Alloiococcus otilis (csa104), Micrococcus diversus (csa105), Micrococcus luteus (csa106), identified by the Biolog test method. The strains were tested for utilization of organic compounds in which one of the strains (csa101) had higher potency to utilize dibenzofuran (DF) as sole carbon and energy source identified as Serratia marcescens on the basis of 16S rDNA. The degradation of DF by bacterial strain proceeded through an oxidative route as indicated by 2,2′3-trihydroxybiphenyl, 2-hydroxy-6-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-6-oxo-2,4-hexadienoic acid, salicylic acid, and catechol, which was identified by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry.     

Cometabolic Degradation of Dibenzofuran and Dibenzothiophene by a Newly Isolated Carbazole-Degrading Sphingomonas sp. Strain

A carbazole-utilizing bacterium was isolated by enrichment from petroleum-contaminated soil. The isolate, designated Sphingomonas sp. strain XLDN2-5, could utilize carbazole (CA) as the sole source of carbon, nitrogen, and energy. Washed cells of strain XLDN2-5 were shown to be capable of degrading dibenzofuran (DBF) and dibenzothiophene (DBT). Examination of metabolites suggested that XLDN2-5 degraded DBF to 2-hydroxy-6-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-6-oxo-2,4-hexadienic acid and subsequently to salicylic acid through the angular dioxygenation pathway. In contrast to DBF, strain XLDN2-5 could transform DBT through the ring cleavage and sulfoxidation pathways. Sphingomonas sp. strain XLDN2-5 could cometabolically degrade DBF and DBT in the growing system using CA as a substrate. After 40 h of incubation, 90% of DBT was transformed, and CA and DBF were completely removed. These results suggested that strain XLDN2-5 might be useful in the bioremediation of environments contaminated by these compounds.     

Novel ring cleavage products in the biotransformation of biphenyl by the yeast Trichosporon mucoides

The yeast Trichosporon mucoides, grown on either glucose or phenol, was able to transform biphenyl into a variety of mono-, di-, and trihydroxylated derivatives hydroxylated on one or both aromatic rings. While some of these products accumulated in the supernatant as dead end products, the ortho-substituted dihydroxylated biphenyls were substrates for further oxidation and ring fission. These ring fission products were identified by high-performance liquid chromatography, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and nuclear magnetic resonance analyses as phenyl derivatives of hydroxymuconic acids and the corresponding pyrones. Seven novel products out of eight resulted from the oxidation and ring fission of 3,4-dihydroxybiphenyl. Using this compound as a substrate, 2-hydroxy-4-phenylmuconic acid, (5-oxo-3-phenyl-2,5-dihydrofuran-2-yl)acetic acid, and 3-phenyl-2-pyrone-6-carboxylic acid were identified. Ring cleavage of 3,4,4'-trihydroxybiphenyl resulted in the formation of [5-oxo-3-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)-2,5-dihydrofuran-2-yl]acetic acid, 4-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)-2-pyrone-6-carboxylic acid, and 3-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)-2-pyrone-6-carboxylic acid. 2,3,4-trihydroxybiphenyl was oxidized to 2-hydroxy-5-phenylmuconic acid, and 4-phenyl-2-pyrone-6-carboxylic acid was the transformation product of 3,4,5-trihydroxybiphenyl. All these ring fission products were considerably less toxic than the hydroxylated derivatives.     

Biotransformation of biphenyl by Paecilomyces lilacinus and characterization of ring cleavage products

We examined the pathway by which the fungicide biphenyl is metabolized in the imperfect fungus Paecilomyces lilacinus. The initial oxidation yielded the three monohydroxylated biphenyls. Further hydroxylation occurred on the first and the second aromatic ring systems, resulting in the formation of five di- and trihydroxylated metabolites. The fungus could cleave the aromatic structures, resulting in the transformation of biphenyl via ortho-substituted dihydroxybiphenyl to six-ring fission products. All compounds were characterized by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. These compounds include 2-hydroxy-4-phenylmuconic acid and 2-hydroxy-4-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)-muconic acid, which were produced from 3,4-dihydroxybiphenyl and further transformed to the corresponding lactones 4-phenyl-2-pyrone-6-carboxylic acid and 4-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)-2-pyrone-6-carboxylic acid, which accumulated in large amounts. Two additional ring cleavage products were identified as (5-oxo-3-phenyl-2,5-dihydrofuran-2-yl)-acetic acid and [5-oxo-3-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)-2,5-dihydrofuran-2-yl]-acetic acid. We found that P. lilacinus has a high transformation capacity for biphenyl, which could explain this organism's tolerance to this fungicide.     

Biotransformation of benzothiophene by isopropylbenzene-degrading bacteria.

Isopropylbenzene-degrading bacteria, including Pseudomonas putida RE204, transform benzothiophene to a mixture of compounds. Induced strain RE204 and a number of its Tn5 mutant derivatives were used to accumulate these compounds and their precursors from benzothiophene. These metabolites were subsequently identified by 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. When strain RE204 was incubated with benzothiophene, it produced a bright yellow compound, identified as trans-4-[3-hydroxy-2-thienyl]-2-oxobut-3-enoate, formed by the rearrangement of cis-4-(3-keto-2,3-dihydrothienyl)-2-hydroxybuta-2,4-dieno ate, the product of 3-isopropylcatechol-2,3-dioxygenase-catalyzed ring cleavage of 4,5-dihydroxybenzothiophene, as well as 2-mercaptophenylglyoxalate and 2'-mercaptomandelaldehyde. A dihydrodiol dehydrogenase-deficient mutant, strain RE213, converted benzothiophene to cis-4,5-dihydroxy-4,5-dihydrobenzothiophene and 2'-mercaptomandelaldehyde; neither trans-4-[3-hydroxy-2-thienyl]-2-oxobut-3-enoate nor 2-mercaptophenylglyoxalate was detected. Cell extracts of strain RE204 catalyzed the conversion of cis-4,5-dihydroxy-4,5-dihydrobenzothiophene to trans-4-[3-hydroxy-2-thienyl]-2-oxobut-3-enoate in the presence of NAD+. Under the same conditions, extracts of the 3-isopropylcatechol-2,3-dioxygenase-deficient mutant RE215 acted on cis-4,5-dihydroxy-4,5-dihydrobenzothiophene, forming 4,5-dihydroxybenzothiophene. These data indicate that oxidation of benzothiophene by strain RE204 is initiated at either ring. Transformation initiated at the 4,5 position on the benzene ring proceeds by three enzyme-catalyzed reactions through ring cleavage. The sequence of events that occurs following attack at the 2,3 position of the thiophene ring is less clear, but it is proposed that 2,3 dioxygenation yields a product that is both a cis-dihydrodiol and a thiohemiacetal, which as a result of this structure undergoes two competing reactions: either spontaneous opening of the ring, yielding 2'-mercaptomandelaldehyde, or oxidation by the dihydrodiol dehydrogenase to another thiohemiacetal, 2-hydroxy-3-oxo-2,3-dihydrobenzothiophene, which is not a substrate for the ring cleavage dioxygenase but which spontaneously opens to form 2-mercaptophenylglyoxaldehyde and subsequently 2-mercaptophenylglyoxalate. The yellow product, trans-4-[3-hydroxy-2-thienyl]-2-oxobut-3-enoate, is a structural analog of trans-o-hydroxybenzylidenepyruvate, an intermediate of the naphthalene catabolic pathway; extracts of recombinant bacteria containing trans-o-hydroxybenzylidenepyruvate hydratase-aldolase catalyzed the conversion of trans-4-[3-hydroxy-2-thienyl]-2-oxobut-3-enoate to 3-hydroxythiophene-2-carboxaldehyde, which could then be further acted on, in the presence of NAD+, by extracts of recombinant bacteria containing the subsequent enzyme of the naphthalene pathway, salicylaldehyde dehydrogenase.     

Biochemical and Genetic Evidence for meta-Ring Cleavage of 2,4,5-Trihydroxytoluene in Burkholderia sp. Strain DNT

2,4,5-Trihydroxytoluene (THT) oxygenase from Burkholderia sp. strain DNT catalyzes the conversion of THT to an unstable ring fission product. Biochemical and genetic studies of THT oxygenase were undertaken to elucidate the mechanism of the ring fission reaction. The THT oxygenase gene (dntD) was previously localized to the 1.2-kb DNA insert subcloned in the recombinant plasmid designated pJS76 (W. C. Suen and J. C. Spain, J. Bacteriol. 175:1831–1837, 1993). Analysis of the deduced amino acid sequence of DntD revealed the presence of the highly conserved residues characteristic of the catechol 2,3-dioxygenase gene family I. The deduced amino acid sequence of DntD corresponded to a molecular mass of 35 kDa. The native molecular masses for the THT oxygenase estimated by using gel filtration chromatography and nondenaturing gel electrophoresis were 67.4 and 77.8 kDa, respectively. The results suggested that the native protein consists of two identical subunits. The colorless protein contained 2 mol of iron per mol of protein. Stimulation of activity in the presence of ferrous iron and ascorbate suggested a requirement for ferrous iron in the active site. The properties of the enzyme are similar to those of the catechol 2,3-dioxygenases (meta-cleavage dioxygenases). In addition to THT, the enzyme exhibited activity towards 1,2,4-benzenetriol, catechol, 3- and 4-methylcatechol, and 3- and 4-chlorocatechol. The chemical analysis of the THT ring cleavage product showed that the product was 2,4-dihydroxy-5-methyl-6-oxo-2,4-hexadienoic acid, consistent with extradiol ring fission of THT.     

Purification and properties of 2-hydroxy-6-oxo-6-(2'-aminophenyl)hexa-2,4-dienoic acid hydrolase involved in microbial degradation of carbazole

Hydrolysis following meta-ring cleavage by a dioxygenase is a well-known step in aromatic compound metabolism. The 2-hydroxy-6-oxo-6-(2'-aminophenyl)hexa-2,4-dienoic acid hydrolase from Pseudomonas LD2 is a new member of the small group of characterized aromatic hydrolases that catalyze the cleavage of C-C bonds. In this study, the His(6)-tagged 2-hydroxy-6-oxo-6-(2'-aminophenyl)hexa-2,4-dienoic acid (HOPDA) hydrolase was purified from a recombinant Escherichia coli strain utilizing immobilized metal affinity chromatography. 2-Hydroxy-6-oxo-6-(2'-aminophenyl)hexa-2,4-dienoic acid hydrolase is a colorless homodimer with no cofactor requirement. The enzyme actively converted HOPDA into benzoic acid and 2-hydroxypenta-2,4-dienoic acid. The enzyme exhibited activity between pH 6.5 and 10.5 with a maximum activity at pH 7.0. The optimum temperature at pH 7.0 was 60 degrees C. The calculated K'(m) for HOPDA was 4.6 microM, the V(max) was 3.3 micromol min(-1), and the K(s) was 70.0 microM. This corresponds to a maximum specific turnover rate of 1300 HOPDAs(-1)dimer(-1). The deduced amino acid sequence of CarC showed 30.3, 31.3, and 31.8% identity with TodF (P. putida F1), XylF (P. putida), and DmpD (Pseudomonas sp. CF600), respectively, which are meta-cleavage compound hydrolases from other Pseudomonads. The amino acid sequence Gly-X-Ser-X-Gly, which is highly conserved in these hydrolases, is also found in CarC. Lysates from a strain expressing enzyme in which the putative active site serine is mutated to alanine showed a significant reduction in activity.     

隔山消化学成分的研究

从隔山消的石油醚部分分离得到6个芳香类化合物,分别鉴定为2,4-二羟基苯乙酮（1-（2,4-dihy—droxph—enyl）ethanone,1）、奎乙酰苯（acetylquinol,2）、对羟基苯乙酮（1-（4-hydroxyphenyl）ethanone,3）、4-羟基-3-甲氧基苯乙酮（1-（4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl）ethanone,4）、2,4-二羟基-5-甲氧基苯乙酮（1-（2,4-dihydroxy-5-methoxyphenyl）ethanone,5）、3-羟基4-甲氧基苯甲酸（3-hydroxy-4-methoxy—benzoicacid,6）。除化合物2外,其余5个化合物均首次从该植物中分离得到。     

Structure of the Ring Cleavage Product of 1-Hydroxy-2-Naphthoate, an Intermediate of the Phenanthrene-Degradative Pathway of Nocardioides sp. Strain KP7

1-Hydroxy-2-naphthoate (compound I) is a metabolite of the phenanthrene-degradative pathway in Nocardioides sp. strain KP7. This singly hydroxylated aromatic compound is cleaved by 1-hydroxy-2-naphthoate dioxygenase. In this study, the structure of the ring cleavage product generated by the action of homogeneous 1-hydroxy-2-naphthoate dioxygenase was determined upon separation by high-performance liquid chromatography at pH 2.5 by using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and mass spectroscopic techniques. The ring cleavage product at this pH existed in equilibrium between two forms, 2-oxo-3-(3-oxo-1,3-dihydro-1-isobenzofuranyl)propanoate (compound III) and 2,2-dihydroxy-3-(3-oxo-1,3-dihydro-1-isobenzofuranyl)propanoate (compound IV). After the pH of the solution was raised to 7.5, the structure of the major species became (E)-4-(2-carboxylatophenyl)-2-oxo-3-butenoate (compound II; common name, trans-2′-carboxybenzalpyruvate), which was in equilibrium with compound III. Direct monitoring of the enzymatic formation of the ring cleavage product by ¹H-NMR in a deuterated potassium phosphate buffer (pH 7.5) detected only compound II as a product, and the proton on carbon 3 of compound II was not exchanged with deuterium. Thus, compound II is likely to be the first stable product of dioxygenation of 1-hydroxy-2-naphthoate.     

Bacterial metabolism of side chain fluorinated aromatics: cometabolism of 4-trifluoromethyl(TFM)-benzoate by 4-isopropylbenzoate grown Pseudomonas putida JT strains

Enzymes of the p-cymene pathway in Pseudomonas putida strains cometabolized the intermediate analogue 4-trifluoromethyl(TFM)benzoate. Three products, 4-TFM-2,3-dihydro-2,3-dihydroxybenzoate, 4-TFM-2,3-dihydroxy-benzoate and 2-hydroxy-6-oxo-7,7,7-trifluorohepta-2,4-dienoate (7-TFHOD) were identified chemically and by spectroscopic proterties.Certain TFM-substituted analogue metabolites of the p-cymene pathway were transformed at drastically reduced rates.Hammett type analysis of ring cleavage reactions of 4-substituted 2,3-dihydroxybenzoates revealed the negative inductive and especially mesomeric effect of substituents to be rate determining. Whereas decarboxylation of 3-carboxy-7-TFHOD was not affected by fluorine substitution the subsequent hydrolysis of 7-TFHOD proceeded very slowly. The negative inductive effect of the TFM-group probably inhibited heterolysis of the carbon bond between C₅ and C₆ of 7-TFHOD.Abbreviations DHB 1,2-Dihydroxy-2-hydrobenzoate - DHC 2,3-Dihydro-2,3-dihydroxybenzoate, this compound was termed DHC simply to distinguish it from the similar 1,2-dihydroxy-2-hydrobenzoate (DHB) as described in the preceeding paper (Engesser et al. 1988) - HMS 2-Hydroxymuconic semialdehyde - HOD 2-Hydroxy-6-oxohepta-2,4-dienoate - 7-TFHOD 2-Hydroxy-6-oxo-7,7,7-trifluorohepta-2,4-dienoate - TFM Trifluoromethyl This work was supported, in part, by the Gesellschaft für Strahlen- und Umweltforschung, Neuherberg/München, FRG