Degradation of p-toluidine by Pseudomonas testosteroni

Abstract A bacterium, which utilizes p -toluidine as sole source of carbon and energy was isolated from soil. The bacterium was identified as Pseudomonas testosteroni .
From enzymatic studies we propose the following pathway for the degradation of p -toluidine: p -toluidine is oxidatively converted to 4-methyl-catechol, which is then cleaved by a meta -pyrocatechase to 2-hydroxy-5-methyl- cis-cis -muconate semialdehyde.