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Metabolism of benzyl alcohol via catechol ortho-pathway in methylnaphthalene-degrading Pseudomonas putida CSV86

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Abstract.

Pseudomonas putida CSV86 metabolizes 1- and 2-methylnaphthalene through distinct catabolic and detoxification pathways. In spite of the similarity in the steps involved in the methylnaphthalene detoxification and the toluene side-chain hydroxylation pathways, the strain failed to utilize toluene or xylenes. However, it could grow on benzyl alcohol, 2- and 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol. Metabolic studies suggest that the benzyl alcohol metabolism proceeds via the benzaldehyde, benzoate, and catechol ortho-cleavage pathway, in contrast to the well established catechol meta-cleavage pathway. Carbon source-dependent enzyme activity studies suggest that the degradation of aromatic alcohol involves two regulons. Aromatic alcohol induces the upper regulon, which codes for aromatic alcohol- and aromatic aldehyde-dehydrogenase and converts alcohol into acid. The aromatic acid so generated induces the specific lower regulon and is metabolized via either the ortho- or the meta-cleavage pathway. CSV86 cells transform 1- and 2-methylnaphthalene to 1- and 2-hydroxymethyl naphthalene, which are further converted to the respective naphthoic acids due to the basal level expression and broad substrate specificity of the upper regulon enzymes.

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Acknowledgements.

P.P. would like to thank the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, for a Research Grant and RSIC, IIT Bombay for providing a GC-MS facility. A UGC-Junior Research Fellowship to A.B. is gratefully acknowledged.

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  1. Biotechnology Group, School of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology, 400 076, Bombay, Mumbai, India

    A. Basu, S. S. Dixit & P. S. Phale

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  1. A. Basu
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  2. S. S. Dixit
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  3. P. S. Phale
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Correspondence to P. S. Phale.

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Basu, A., Dixit, S.S. & Phale, P.S. Metabolism of benzyl alcohol via catechol ortho-pathway in methylnaphthalene-degrading Pseudomonas putida CSV86. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 62, 579–585 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-003-1305-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-003-1305-8

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