Substrate specificity of catechol 2,3-dioxygenase encoded by TOL plasmid pWW0 of Pseudomonas putida and its relationship to cell growth.

Catechol 2,3-dioxygenase encoded by TOL plasmid pWW0 of Pseudomonas putida consists of four identical subunits, each containing one ferrous ion. The enzyme catalyzes ring cleavage of catechol, 3-methylcatechol, and 4-methylcatechol but shows only weak activity toward 4-ethylcatechol. Two mutants of catechol 2,3-dioxygenases (4ECR1 and 4ECR6) able to oxidize 4-ethylcatechol, one mutant (3MCS) which exhibits only weak activity toward 3-methylcatechol but retained the ability to cleave catechol and 4-methylcatechol, and one phenotypic revertant of 3MCS (3MCR) which had regained the ability to oxidize 3-methylcatechol were characterized by determining their Km and partition ratio (the ratio of productive catalysis to suicide catalysis). The amino acid substitutions in the four mutant enzymes were also identified by sequencing their structural genes. Wild-type catechol 2,3-dioxygenase was inactivated during the catalysis of 4-ethylcatechol and thus had a low partition ratio for this substrate, whereas the two mutant enzymes, 4ECR1 and 4ECR6, had higher partition ratios for it. Similarly, mutant enzyme 3MCS had a lower partition ratio for 3-methylcatechol than that of 3MCR. Molecular oxygen was required for the inactivation of the wild-type enzyme by 4-ethylcatechol and of 3MCS by 3-methylcatechol, and the inactivated enzymes could be reactivated by incubation with FeSO4 plus ascorbic acid. The enzyme inactivation is thus most likely mechanism based and occurred principally by oxidation and/or removal of the ferrous ion in the catalytic center. In general, partition ratios for catechols lower than 18,000 did not support bacterial growth. A possible meaning of the critical value of the partition ratio is discussed.     

Enzyme–substrate interaction and characterization of a 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl 1,2-dioxygenase from Dyella ginsengisoli LA-4

A bphC gene (915 bp) encoding 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl 1,2-dioxygenase (BphC) was amplified by PCR from Dyella ginsengisoli LA-4, which was heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli . The purified His-Tag BphC was able to catalyze the meta -cleavage reaction of the dihydroxylated aromatic rings. According to the specificity constant ( K _cat/ K _m) of BphC_LA-4, the specificity of BphC_LA-4 was determined in the following order: 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl>3-methylcatechol>catechol>4-chlorocatechol>4-methylcatechol. The experimental data were consistent with the prediction of enzyme–substrate complexes. The highest specific activity of BphC_LA-4 was 118.3 U mg⁻¹ for 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl.     

Inhibition of catechol 2,3-dioxygenase from Pseudomonas putida by 3-chlorocatechol.

Partially purified preparations of catechol 2,3-dioxygenase from toluene-grown cells of Pseudomonas putida catalyzed the stoichiometric oxidation of 3-methylcatechol to 2-hydroxy-6-oxohepta-2,4-dienoate. Other substrates oxidized by the enzyme preparation were catechol, 4-methylcatechol, and 4-fluorocatechol. The apparent Michaelis constants for 3-methylcatechol and catechol were 10.6 and 22.0 muM, respectively. Substitution at the 4-position decreases the affinity and activity of the enzyme for the substrate. Catechol 2,3-dioxygenase preparations did not oxidize 3-chlorocatechol. In addition, incubation of the enzyme with 3-chlorocatechol led to inactivation of the enzyme. Kinetic analyses revealed that both 3-chlorocatechol and 4-chlorocatechol were noncompetitive or mixed-type inhibitors of the enzyme. 3-Chlorocatechol (Ki = 0.14 muM) was a more potent inhibitor than 4-chlorocatechol (Ki = 50 muM). The effect of the ion-chelating agents Tiron and o-phenanthrolene were compared with that of 3-chlorocatechol on the inactivation of the enzyme. Each inhibitor appeared to remove iron from the enzyme, since inactive enzyme preparations could be fully reactivated by treatment with ferrous iron and a reducing agent.     

Extradiol dioxygenase-SiO₂ sol-gel modified electrode for catechol and its derivatives detection

A feasible and sensitive biosensor for catechol and its derivatives using 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl 1,2-dioxygenase (BphC)-modified glassy carbon electrode was successfully constructed by polyvinyl alcohol-modified SiO? sol-gel method. The as-prepared biosensor was characterized by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and the surface topography of the film was imaged by atomic force microscope. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was applied to reveal the catalytic mechanism. BphC embedded in SiO? gel maintained its bioactivity well and exhibited excellent eletrocatalytical response to both catechol and some of its derivatives (such as 3-methylcatechol and 4-methylcatechol). The biosensor showed a linear amperometric response range between 0.002 mM and 0.8 mM catechol. And the sensitivity was 1.268 mA/(mM cm2) with a detection limit of 0.428 μM for catechol (S/N = 3). Furthermore, the BphC biosensor exhibited perfect selectivity for catechol in the mixtures of catechol and phenol. It was suggested that this flexible protocol would open up a new avenue for designing other ring-cleavage enzyme biosensors, which could be widely used for monitoring various kinds of environmental pollutants.     

Extradiol cleavage of 3-substituted catechols by an intradiol dioxygenase, pyrocatechase, from a Pseudomonad.

Pyrocatechase (catechol 1,2-oxidoreductase (decyclizing), EC 1.13.11.1), a ferric ion-containing dioxygenase from Pseudomonas arvilla C-1, catalyzes the intradiol cleavage of catechol with insertion of 2 atoms of molecular oxygen to form cis,cis-muconic acid. The enzyme also catalyzed the oxidation of various catechol derivatives, including 4-methylcatechol, 4-chlorocatechol, 4-formylcatechol (protocatechualdehyde), 4,5-dichlorocatechol, 3,5-dichlorocatechol, 3-methylcatechol, 3-methoxycatechol, and 3-hydroxycatechol (pyrogallol). All of these substrates gave products having an absorption maximum at around 260 nm, which is characteristic of cis,cis-muconic acid derivatives. However, when 3-methylcatechol was used as substrate, the product formed showed two absorption maxima at 390 and 260 nm. These two absorption maxima were found to be attributable to two different products, 2-hydroxy-6-oxo-2,4-heptadienoic acid and 5-carboxy-2-methyl-2,4-pentadienoic acid (2-methylmuconic acid). The former was produced by the extradiol cleavage between the carbon atom carrying the hydroxyl group and the carbon atom carrying the hydroxyl group and the carbon atom carrying the methyl group; the latter by an intradiol cleavage between two hydroxyl groups. Since these products were unstable, they were converted to and identified as 6-methylpyridine-2-carboxylic acid and 2-methylmuconic acid dimethylester, respectively. Similarly, 3-methoxycatechol gave two products, namely, 2-hydroxy-5-methoxycarbonyl-2,4-pentadienoic acid and 5-carboxy-2-methoxy-2,4-pentadienoic acid (2-methoxymuconic acid). With 3-methylcatechol as substrate, the ratio of intradiol and extradiol cleavage activities of Pseudomonas pyrocatechase during purification was almost constant and was about 17. The final preparation of the enzyme was homogeneous when examined by disc gel electrophoresis and catalyzed both reactions simultaneously with the same ratio as during purification. All attempts to resolve the enzyme into two components with separate activities, including inactivation of the enzyme with urea or heat, treatment with sulfhydryl-blocking reagents or chelating agents, and inhibition of the enzyme with various inhibitors, proved unsuccessful. These results strongly suggest that Pseudomonas pyrocatechase is a single enzyme, which catalyzes simultaneously both intradiol and extradiol cleavages of some 3-substituted catechols.     

Chemical- and cuticular phenoloxidase- mediated synthesis of cysteinyl–catechol adducts

N-Acetylcysteine adducts of o-benzoquinones derived from catechol, 4-methylcatechol, and N-acetyldopamine were chemically synthesized and characterized by a combination of UV, IR, and NMR spectral studies. Oxidation of catechol, 4-methylcatechol, and N-acetyldopamine by cuticle-bound phenoloxidase from Sarcophaga bullata in the presence of N-acetylcysteine resulted in the formation of covalent adducts between catecholic compounds and N-acetylcysteine. Structural identities of these adducts were established by comparison of their HPLC retention time and UV spectra with those of synthetic adducts and by cochromatography with authentic samples. Although insect cuticle is known to contain only trace amounts of cysteine, the in vitro synthesis of quinone cysteine adducts mediated by cuticular phenoloxidase strongly indicates the occurrence of similar reactions in vivo as well and is in support of Pryor's quinone tanning hypothesis.     

Reaction mechanism of grape catechol oxidase—a kinetic study

The initial velocity of the oxidation of 4-methylcatechol by grape catechol oxidase was determined. The kinetic analysis indicates that first there is random binding of an oxygen and a 4-methylcatechol molecule to the enzyme. Then one product molecule is released prior to the binding of second 4-methylcatechol molecule which is followed by the release of a second product molecule. The true K_m values were determined; they were found to be 0.5 mM for oxygen and 17 mM for 4-methylcatechol.     

Some kinetic properties of polyphenol oxidase from Thymbra spicata L. var. spicata

Polyphenol oxidase (PPO) of Thymbra (Thymbra spicata L. var. spicata) was isolated by (NH₄)₂SO₄ precipitation and dialysis. A diphenolase from Thymbra plant, active against 4-methylcatechol, catechol and pyrogallol was characterized in detail in terms of pH and temperature optima, stability, kinetic parameters and inhibition behaviour towards some general PPO inhibitors. 4-Methylcatechol was the most suitable substrate, due to the lowest K_m and the biggest V_max/K_m values, followed by catechol and pyrogallol. The Thymbra PPO had maximum activity at pH 5.0, 7.0 and 8.0 with 4-methylcatechol, catechol and pyrogallol substrates, respectively. The optimum temperature of activity for Thymbra PPO was 30, 40 and 50 °C for 4-methylcatechol, catechol and pyrogallol substrates, respectively. It was found that optimum temperature and pH were substrate-dependent studied. The enzyme activity decreased due to heat denaturation of the enzyme with increasing temperature and inactivation time. Inhibition of Thymbra PPO was investigated with inhibitors such as l-cysteine and glutathione using 4-methylcatechol, catechol and pyrogallol as substrates. It was found that l-cysteine was a more effective inhibitor than glutathione owing to lower K_i. The type of inhibition depended on the origin of the PPO studied and also on the substrate used. Furthermore, the IC₅₀ values of inhibitors sudied on PPO were determined by means of activity percentage (I) diagrams.     

Characterization of catechol derivative removal by lignin peroxidase in aqueous mixture

The use of lignin peroxidase (LIP) as an alternative method for the removal of four catechols (1,2-dihydroxybenzene): catechol (CAT), 4-chlorocatechol (4-CC), 4,5-dichlorocatechol (4,5-DCC) and 4-methylcatechol (4-MC) typical pollutants in wastewater derived from oil and paper industries, was evaluated. The removal of 2 mM catecholic substrates by 1 μM LIP after 1 h was in the following order: 4,5-DCC (95%) > 4-CC(90%) > CAT(55%) > 4-MC(43%). Except for 4-MC, all reactions were accompanied by the formation of insoluble products, leading to LIP precipitation. LIP was exposed to soluble or insoluble product-dependent inactivation, depending on the substrates tested, immediately at the start of the reactions. Despite immediate enzyme inactivation, removal of catecholic substrates continued, resulting in oligomeric product formation. Major oxidation products analyzed were compatible with dimeric, trimeric and tetrameric structures. Ether linkages and a benzoquinone structure were detected in two purified oligochlorocatechols.Catechol derivatives removal initiated by LIP, seems to be different for each catecholic substrate in terms of substrate consumption and transformation, and of enzyme activity.     

Biodegradation of 2-nitrotoluene by Pseudomonas sp. strain JS42.

A strain of Pseudomonas sp. was isolated from nitrobenzene-contaminated soil and groundwater on 2-nitrotoluene as the sole source of carbon, energy, and nitrogen. Bacterial cells growing on 2-nitrotoluene released nitrite into the growth medium. The isolate also grew on 3-methylcatechol, 4-methylcatechol, and catechol. 2-Nitrotoluene, 3-methylcatechol, and catechol stimulated oxygen consumption by intact cells regardless of the growth substrate. Crude extracts from the isolate contained catechol 2,3-dioxygenase and 2-hydroxy-6-oxohepta-2,4-dienoate hydrolase activity. The results suggest that 2-nitrotoluene is subject to initial attack by a dioxygenase enzyme that forms 3-methylcatechol with concomitant release of nitrite. The 3-methylcatechol is subsequently degraded via the meta ring fission pathway.     

Purification and characterization of catechol 2,3-dioxygenase from the aniline degradation pathway of Acinetobacter sp. YAA and its mutant enzyme, which resists substrate inhibition

Catechol 2,3-dioxygenase (C23O), a key enzyme in the meta-cleavage pathway of catechol metabolism, was purified from cell extract of recombinant Escherichia coli JM109 harboring the C23O gene (atdB) cloned from an aniline-degrading bacterium Acinetobacter sp. YAA. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and gel filtration chromatography analysis suggested that the enzyme (AtdB) has a molecular mass of 35 kDa as a monomer and forms a tetrameric structure. It showed relative meta-cleavage activities for the following catechols tested: catechol (100%), 3-methylcatechol (19%), 4-methylcatechol (57%), 4-chlorocatechol (46%), and 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl (5%). To elevate the activity, a DNA self-shuffling experiment was carried out using the atdB gene. One mutant enzyme, named AtdBE286K, was obtained. It had one amino acid substitution, E286K, and showed 2.4-fold higher C23O activity than the wild-type enzyme at 100 microM. Kinetic analysis of these enzymes revealed that the wild-type enzyme suffered from substrate inhibition at >2 microM, while the mutant enzyme loosened substrate inhibition.     

The Production of Catechols from Benzene and Toluene by Pseudomonas Putida in Glucose Fed-Batch Culture

Catechol and 3-methylcatechol were produced from benzene and toluene respectively using different mutants of Pseudomonas putida. P. putida 2313 lacked the extradiol cleavage enzyme, catechol 2,3-oxygenase, allowing overproduction of 3-methylcatechol from toluene to a level of 11.5 mM (1.27 g·1^-1) in glucose fed-batch culture. P. putida 6(12), a mutant of P. putida 2313, lacked both catechol-oxygenase and catechol 1,2-oxygenase, and accumulated catechol from benzene to a level of 27.5mM(3g·1^-1).

In both biotransformations product formation ceased within 10 hours of feeding the aromatic substrate, and this was due to product inhibition by the catechols. The primary site of catechol toxicity was inhibition of the aromatic dioxygenase. Neither cis-toluene dihydrodiol cis-1,2-dihydroxy-3-methylcyclohexa-3,5-diene), nor cis-benzene dihydrodiol (cis-l,2-dihydroxy-3-methylcyclohexa-3,5-diene) dehydrogenase was significantly inhibited by catechol overproduction whereas both ring activating dioxygenases were inhibited within 4-6 hours of the maximum product concentration being attained.

3-Methylcatechol overproduction from toluene was also studied using a continuous product removal system. Granular activated charcoal removed 3-methylcatechol efficiently and was easily regenerated by washing with ethyl acetate. Using P. putida 2313, it was shown that the final product concentration increased approximately fourfold. Additional products were formed and the significance of these are discussed.     

Isolation and partial characterization of an extradiol non-haem iron dioxygenase which preferentially cleaves 3-methylcatechol.

A purification procedure has been developed for an extradiol dioxygenase expressed in Escherichia coli, which was originally derived from a Pseudomonas putida strain able to grow on toluidine. Physical and kinetic properties of the enzyme have been investigated. The enzyme has a subunit Mr of 33,500 +/- 2000 by SDS/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. Gel filtration indicates a molecular mass under non-denaturing conditions of 120,000 +/- 20,000. The N-terminal sequence (35 residues) of the enzyme has been determined and exhibits 50% identity with other extradiol dioxygenases. Fe(II) is a cofactor of the enzyme, as it is for other extradiol dioxygenases. The reactivity of this enzyme towards catechol and methyl-substituted catechols is somewhat different from that seen for other catechol 2,3-dioxygenases, with 3-methylcatechol cleaved at a higher rate than catechol or 4-methylcatechol. Km values for these substrates with this enzyme are all around 0.3 microM. The enzyme exhibits a bell-shaped pH profile with pKa values of 6.9 +/- 0.1 and 8.7 +/- 0.1. These results are compared with those found for other extradiol dioxygenases.     

The metabolism of cresols by species of Pseudomonas

1. A comparison of rates of oxidation of various compounds by whole cells indicated that protocatechuate was a reaction intermediate when a non-fluorescent species of Pseudomonas oxidized p-cresol. In contrast, a fluorescent Pseudomonas oxidized 3-methylcatechol and 4-methylcatechol when grown with p-cresol, but did not oxidize protocatechuate. 2. Heat-treated extracts of the fluorescent Pseudomonas oxidized catechol, 3-methylcatechol and 4-methylcatechol to ring-fission products, the spectroscopic properties of which were recorded. Rates of enzymic degradation of these products were also measured. 3. Acetic acid and formic acid were obtained by the action of a Sephadex-treated extract on 3-methylcatechol and 4-methylcatechol respectively. In each case 0.8mol. of the carboxylic acid was formed from 1.0mol. of substrate. 4. Dialysed extracts converted 3-methylcatechol into acetaldehyde and pyruvate, with 4-hydroxy-2-oxovalerate as a reaction intermediate. 4-Methylcatechol was converted first into 4-hydroxy-2-oxohexanoate and then into propionaldehyde and pyruvate. 5. The ring-fission product of catechol was formed from phenol by a fluorescent Pseudomonas, that of 3-methylcatechol was formed from o-cresol and m-cresol, and the ring-fission product of 4-methylcatechol was given from p-cresol. Propionate was readily oxidized by these cells after growth with p-cresol, but this compound was not attacked when phenol, o-cresol or m-cresol served as source of carbon. 6. Cell extracts appeared to attack only one enantiomer of synthetic 4-hydroxy-2-oxohexanoate.     

Characterization of catechol 2,3-dioxygenases.

Three catechol 2,3-dioxygenases for biphenyl, naphthalene/salicylate, and toluene/xylene oxidation were cloned from Achromobacter xylosoxidans KF701, Pseudomonas putida (NAH7), and Pseudomonas sp. (pWWO). The cloned catechol 2,3-dioxygenases were identified by enzymatic activity assay in addition to yellow bands on polyacrylamide gel after electrophoresis and activity staining. All of the cloned catechol 2,3-dioxygenases exhibited their highest activities on catechol as a substrate compared with catechol derivatives including 4-chlorocatechol, 3-methylcatechol, and 4-methylcatechol. The cloned catechol 2,3-dioxygenases are not fused proteins but were significantly different from one another in their electrophoretic mobilities on nondenaturing 7.5%-polyacrylamide gel.     

Microbial degradation of alkylbenzenesulphonates. Metabolism of homologues of short alkyl-chain length by an Alcaligenes sp

1. An organism isolated from sewage and identified as an Alcaligenes sp. utilized benzenesulphonate, toluene-p-sulphonate or phenylethane-p-sulphonate as sole source of carbon and energy for growth. Higher alkylbenzenesulphonate homologues and the hydrocarbons, benzene, toluene, phenylethane and 1-phenyldodecane were not utilized. 2. 2-Phenylpropanesulphonate was metabolized to 4-isopropylcatechol. 3. 1-Phenylpropanesulphonate was metabolized to an ortho-diol, which was tentatively identified, in the absence of an authentic specimen, as 4-n-propylcatechol. 4. In the presence of 4-isopropylcatechol, which inhibited catechol 2,3-dioxygenase, 4-ethylcatechol accumulated in cultures growing on phenylethane-p-sulphonate. 5. Authentic samples of catechol, 3-methylcatechol, 4-methylcatechol, 4-ethylcatechol and 3-isopropylcatechol were oxidized by heat-treated extracts to the corresponding 2-hydroxyalkylmuconic semialdehydes. Ring cleavage occurred between C-2 and C-3. 6. The catechol derived from 1-phenylpropanesulphonate was oxygenated by catechol 2,3-dioxygenase to a compound with all the properties of a 2-hydroxyalkylmuconic semialdehyde, but it was not rigorously identified. 7. The catechol 2,3-dioxygenase induced by growth on benzenesulphonate, toluene-p-sulphonate or phenylethane-p-sulphonate showed a constant ratio of specific activities with catechol, 3-methylcatechol, 4-methylcatechol and 4-ethylcatechol that was independent of the growth substrate. At 60°C, activity towards these substrates declined at an identical first-order rate. 8. Enzymes of the `ortho' pathway of catechol metabolism were present in small amounts in cells grown on benzenesulphonate, toluene-p-sulphonate or phenylethane-p-sulphonate. 9. The catechol 1,2-dioxygenase oxidized the alkylcatechols, but the rates and the total extents of oxidation were less than for catechol itself. The oxidation products of these alkylcatechols were not further metabolized.     

The Production of Catechols from Benzene and Toluene by Pseudomonas Putida in Glucose Fed-Batch Culture

Catechol and 3-methylcatechol were produced from benzene and toluene respectively using different mutants of Pseudomonas putida. P. putida 2313 lacked the extradiol cleavage enzyme, catechol 2,3-oxygenase, allowing overproduction of 3-methylcatechol from toluene to a level of 11.5 mM (1.27 g·1^-1) in glucose fed-batch culture. P. putida 6(12), a mutant of P. putida 2313, lacked both catechol-oxygenase and catechol 1,2-oxygenase, and accumulated catechol from benzene to a level of 27.5mM(3g·1^-1).

In both biotransformations product formation ceased within 10 hours of feeding the aromatic substrate, and this was due to product inhibition by the catechols. The primary site of catechol toxicity was inhibition of the aromatic dioxygenase. Neither cis-toluene dihydrodiol cis-1,2-dihydroxy-3-methylcyclohexa-3,5-diene), nor cis-benzene dihydrodiol (cis-l,2-dihydroxy-3-methylcyclohexa-3,5-diene) dehydrogenase was significantly inhibited by catechol overproduction whereas both ring activating dioxygenases were inhibited within 4-6 hours of the maximum product concentration being attained.

3-Methylcatechol overproduction from toluene was also studied using a continuous product removal system. Granular activated charcoal removed 3-methylcatechol efficiently and was easily regenerated by washing with ethyl acetate. Using P. putida 2313, it was shown that the final product concentration increased approximately fourfold. Additional products were formed and the significance of these are discussed.     

Catechol 1,2-dioxygenase from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus: purification and properties.

Procedures for the purification of catechol 1,2-dioxygenase from extracts of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus strain ADP-96 are described. The purified enzyme was homogeneous as judged by ultracentrifugation and acrylamide gel electrophoresis. The enzyme contained 2 g-atoms of iron per mol of protein. The enzyme had a broad substrate specificity and catalyzed the oxidation of catechol, 4-methylcatechol, 3-methylcatechol, and 3-isopropyl catechol. The activity of the enzyme was inhibited by heavy metals, sulfhydryl inhibitors, and substrate analogues. The molecular weight of the enzyme was 85,000 as estimated by filtration on Bio-Gel agarose and 81,000 as estimated by sedimentation equilibrium analysis. The subunit size determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-gel electrophoresis was 40,000. The amino terminal amino acid was methionine. The amino acid composition and spectral properties of 1,2-dioxygenase are also presented. Antisera prepared against the purified enzyme cross-reacted and inhibited enzyme activity in crude extracts from the other strain of A. calcoaceticus, but failed to cross-react and inhibit isofunctional enzyme from organisms of the genera Pseudomonas, Alcaligenes, and Nocardia.     

Characteristics of a New Catechol 1,2-Oxygenase from Trichosporon cutaneum WY 2-2

Successive feeding of phenol at concentrations of less than 5.5 mM into a thick suspension of Trichosporon cutaneum WY 2-2 precultured in MPY-medium resulted in a high yield (approximately 28.7 g wet cells/liter) of intact cells capable of decomposing phenol actively (3.7 μmol/min/g of wet cells).

The effects of pH and additions of ethanol and 2-mercaptoethanol were tested on the stability of crude extracts from the strain grown on phenol. The crude extracts were stable at a pH range of 7.6 and 8.3, and were stable for 35 days when 10% ethanol and 5 mM 2-mercaptoethanol were added.

A highly purified preparation of catechol 1,2-oxygenase was obtained from strain WY 2-2 grown on phenol. The purified enzyme was homogeneous on polyacrylamide disc-gel electrophoresis. The enzyme had a molecular weight of about 105,000 and gave rise to subunits of molecular weight of 35,000 by SDS gel electrophoresis. Therefore, the enzyme appears to be a trimer of subunits with identical molecular weight. The Michaelis constants were 9.0 μM for catechol and 6.8 μM for 4-methylcatechol. The enzyme exhibited higher activities towards 4-methylcatechol and hydroxyquinol than towards catechol, and had essentially the same substrate specificity as the crude extracts. 4-Methylcatechol completely inhibited the enzyme activity towards catechol.     

Simultaneous biodegradation of chlorobenzene and toluene by a Pseudomonas strain.

Pseudomonas sp. strain JS6 grows on a wide range of chloro- and methylaromatic substrates. The simultaneous degradation of these compounds is prevented in most previously studied isolates because the catabolic pathways are incompatible. The purpose of this study was to determine whether strain JS6 could degrade mixtures of chloro- and methyl-substituted aromatic compounds. Strain JS6 was maintained in a chemostat on a minimal medium with toluene or chlorobenzene as the sole carbon source, supplied via a syringe pump. Strain JS6 contained an active catechol 2,3-dioxygenase when grown in the presence of chloroaromatic compounds; however, in cell extracts, this enzyme was strongly inhibited by 3-chlorocatechol. When cells grown to steady state on toluene were exposed to 50% toluene-50% chlorobenzene, 3-chlorocatechol and 3-methylcatechol accumulated in the medium and the cell density decreased. After 3 h, the enzyme activities of the modified ortho ring fission pathway were induced, the metabolites disappeared, and the cell density returned to previous levels. In cell extracts, 3-methylcatechol was degraded by both catechol 1,2- and catechol 2,3-dioxygenase. Strain JS62, a catechol 2,3-dioxygenase mutant of JS6, grew on toluene, and ring cleavage of 3-methylcatechol was catalyzed by catechol 1,2-dioxygenase. The transient metabolite 2-methyllactone was identified in chlorobenzene-grown JS6 cultures exposed to toluene. These results indicate that strain JS6 can degrade mixtures of chloro- and methylaromatic compounds by means of a modified ortho ring fission pathway.