Skip to main content
PMC home page
Journal of Bacteriology logoLink to Journal of Bacteriology
. 1975 Oct;124(1):7–13. doi: 10.1128/jb.124.1.7-13.1975

Metabolism of toluene and xylenes by Pseudomonas (putida (arvilla) mt-2: evidence for a new function of the TOL plasmid.

M J Worsey, P A Williams
PMCID: PMC235858  PMID: 1176436

Abstract

Pseudomonas putida (arvilla) mt-2 carries genes for the catabolism of toluene, m-xylene, and p-xylene on a transmissible plasmid, TOL. These compounds are degraded by oxidation of one of the methyl substituents via the corresponding alcohols and aldehydes to benzoate and m- and p-toluates, respectively, which are then further metabolised by the meta pathway, also coded for by the TOL plasmid. The specificities of the benzyl alcohol dehydrogenase and the benzaldehyde dehydrogenase for their three respective substrates are independent of the carbon source used for growth, suggesting that a single set of nonspecific enzymes is responsible for the dissimilation of the breakdown products of toluene and m- and p-xylene. Benzyl alcohol dehydrogenase and benzaldehyde dehydrogenase are coincidently and possible coordinately induced by toluene and the xylenes, and by the corresponding alcohols and aldehydes. They are not induced in cells grown on m-toluate but catechol 2,3-oxygenase can be induced by m-xylene.

Full text

PDF
7

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Chakrabarty A. M. Genetic basis of the biodegradation of salicylate in Pseudomonas. J Bacteriol. 1972 Nov;112(2):815–823. doi: 10.1128/jb.112.2.815-823.1972. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Davey J. F., Gibson D. T. Bacterial metabolism of para- and meta-xylene: oxidation of a methyl substituent. J Bacteriol. 1974 Sep;119(3):923–929. doi: 10.1128/jb.119.3.923-929.1974. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Davis R. S., Hossler F. E., Stone R. W. Metabolism of p- and m-xylene by species of Pseudomonas. Can J Microbiol. 1968 Sep;14(9):1005–1009. doi: 10.1139/m68-166. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Dunn N. W., Gunsalus I. C. Transmissible plasmid coding early enzymes of naphthalene oxidation in Pseudomonas putida. J Bacteriol. 1973 Jun;114(3):974–979. doi: 10.1128/jb.114.3.974-979.1973. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Murray K., Duggleby C. J., Sala-Trepat J. M., Williams P. A. The metabolism of benzoate and methylbenzoates via the meta-cleavage pathway by Pseudomonas arvilla mt-2. Eur J Biochem. 1972 Jul 24;28(3):301–310. doi: 10.1111/j.1432-1033.1972.tb01914.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Murray K., Williams P. A. Role of catechol and the methylcatechols as inducers of aromatic metabolism in Pseudomonas putida. J Bacteriol. 1974 Mar;117(3):1153–1157. doi: 10.1128/jb.117.3.1153-1157.1974. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Ornston L. N., Ornston M. K., Chou G. Isolation of spontaneous mutant strains of Pseudomonas putida. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1969 Jul 7;36(1):179–184. doi: 10.1016/0006-291x(69)90666-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Ornston L. N. Regulation of catabolic pathways in Pseudomonas. Bacteriol Rev. 1971 Jun;35(2):87–116. doi: 10.1128/br.35.2.87-116.1971. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Ornston L. N. The conversion of catechol and protocatechuate to beta-ketoadipate by Pseudomonas putida. IV. Regulation. J Biol Chem. 1966 Aug 25;241(16):3800–3810. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Sala-Trepat J. M., Evans W. C. The meta cleavage of catechol by Azotobacter species. 4-Oxalocrotonate pathway. Eur J Biochem. 1971 Jun 11;20(3):400–413. doi: 10.1111/j.1432-1033.1971.tb01406.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Sala-Trepat J. M., Murray K., Williams P. A. The metabolic divergence in the meta cleavage of catechols by Pseudomonas putida NCIB 10015. Physiological significance and evolutionary implications. Eur J Biochem. 1972 Jul 24;28(3):347–356. doi: 10.1111/j.1432-1033.1972.tb01920.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Stanier R. Y., Palleroni N. J., Doudoroff M. The aerobic pseudomonads: a taxonomic study. J Gen Microbiol. 1966 May;43(2):159–271. doi: 10.1099/00221287-43-2-159. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Wigmore G. J., Bayly R. C., Di Berardino D. Pseudomonas putida mutants defective in the metabolism of the products of meta fission of catechol and its methyl analogues. J Bacteriol. 1974 Oct;120(1):31–37. doi: 10.1128/jb.120.1.31-37.1974. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Williams P. A., Murray K. Metabolism of benzoate and the methylbenzoates by Pseudomonas putida (arvilla) mt-2: evidence for the existence of a TOL plasmid. J Bacteriol. 1974 Oct;120(1):416–423. doi: 10.1128/jb.120.1.416-423.1974. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Wong C. L., Dunn N. W. Transmissible plasmid coding for the degradation of benzoate and m-toluate in Pseudomonas arvilla mt-2. Genet Res. 1974 Apr;23(2):227–232. doi: 10.1017/s0016672300014853. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Bacteriology are provided here courtesy of American Society for Microbiology (ASM)

RESOURCES