FIG. 1.

Pathways of p-cresol metabolism to benzoyl-CoA in anaerobic bacteria. I. Oxidation of p-cresol via methyl group hydroxylation. The reactions shown are catalyzed by (A and B) p-cresol methylhydroxylase, (C) p-hydroxybenzaldehyde dehydrogenase, (D) p-hydroxybenzoate-CoA ligase, and (E) p-hydroxybenzoyl-CoA reductase. II. Oxidation of p-cresol via addition to fumarate. The reactions shown are catalyzed by (A) p-hydroxybenzylsuccinate synthase, (B) succinyl-CoA:p-hydroxybenzylsuccinate-CoA transferase and p-hydroxybenzylsuccinyl-CoA dehydrogenase, (C) p-hydroxyphenylitaconyl-CoA hydratase and 3-hydroxyenoyl-CoA dehydrogenase, (D) benzoylsuccinyl-CoA thiolase, and (E) p-hydroxybenzoyl-CoA reductase.