Oxidation of nitrotoluenes by toluene dioxygenase: Evidence for a monooxygenase reaction

Journal Article · Sat Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1992 · Applied and Environmental Microbiology; (United States)

OSTI ID:7159706

Robertson, J B; Spain, J C ^[1]; Haddock, J D; Gibson, D T ^[2]

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1. Air Force Civil Engineering Support Agency, Tyndall Air Force Base, FL (United States)
2. Univ. of Iowa, Iowa City (United States)

Pseudomonas putida F1 and Pseudomonas sp. strain JS150 initiate toluene degradation by incorporating molecular oxygen into the aromatic nucleus to form cis-1,2-dihydroxy-3-methylcyclohexa-3,5-diene. When toluene-grown cells were incubated with 2- and 3-nitrotoluene, the major products identified were 2- and 3-nitrobenzyl alcohol, respectively. The same cells oxidized 4-nitrotoluene to 2-methyl-5-nitrophenol and 3-methyl-6-nitrocatechol. Escherichia coli JM109(pDTG601), which contains the toluene dioxygenase genes from P. putida F1 under the control of the tac promoter, oxidized the isomeric nitrotoluenes to the same metabolites as those formed by P. putida F1 and Pseudomonas sp. strain JS150. These results extend the range of substrates known to be oxidized by this versatile enzyme and demonstrate for the first time that toluene dioxygenase can oxidize an aromatic methyl substituent.

• OSTI ID: 7159706
• Journal Information: Applied and Environmental Microbiology; (United States), Vol. 58:8; ISSN 0099-2240
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
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BIODEGRADATION
OXYGENASES
ENZYME ACTIVITY
PSEUDOMONAS
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