Mutants of Pseudomonas cepacia G4 defective in catabolism of aromatic compounds and trichloroethylene

Journal Article · Mon Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1991 · Applied and Environmental Microbiology; (United States)

OSTI ID:5411768

Sheilds, M S; Montgomery, S O ^[1]; Cuskey, S M; Chapman, P J; Pritchard, P H ^[2]

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1. Technical Resources Inc., Gulf Breeze, FL (USA)
2. Environmental Protection Agency, Gulf Breeze, FL (USA)

Pseudomonas cepacia G4 possesses a novel pathway of toluene catabolism that is shown to be responsible for the degradation of trichloroethylene (TCE). This pathway involves conversion of toluene via o-cresol to 3-methylcatechol. In order to determine the enzyme of toluene degradation that is responsible for TCE degradation, chemically induced mutants, blocked in the toluene ortho-monooxygenase (TOM) pathway of G4, were examined. Mutants of the phenotypic class designated TOM A{sup {minus}} were all defective in their ability to oxidize toluene, o-cresol, m-cresol, and phenol, suggesting that a single enzyme is responsible for conversion of these compounds to their hydroxylated products (3-methylcatechol from toluene, o-cresol, and m-cresol and catechol from phenol) in the wild type. Mutants of this class did not degrade TCE. Two other mutant classes which lacked 2-hydroxy-6-oxoheptadienoic acid hydrolase activity, were fully capable of TCE degradation. Therefore, TCE degradation is directly associated with the monooxygenation capability responsible for toluene, cresol, and phenol hydroxylation.

• OSTI ID: 5411768
• Journal Information: Applied and Environmental Microbiology; (United States), Vol. 57:7; ISSN 0099-2240
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
09 BIOMASS FUELS
CHLORINATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
CATABOLISM
PSEUDOMONAS
METABOLISM
TOLUENE
BIOLOGICAL PATHWAYS
CRESOLS
MUTANTS
PHENOLS
ALKYLATED AROMATICS
AROMATICS
BACTERIA
HALOGENATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
MICROORGANISMS
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
540310* - Environment
Aquatic- Basic Studies- (1990-)
090900 - Biomass Fuels- Processing- (1990-)