Open AccessDegradation of substituted benzoic acids by a Micrococcus species
Author(s) -
Haribabu B.,
Kamath Ajith V.,
Vaidyanathan C.S.
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1984.tb00210.x
Subject(s) - catechol , benzoic acid , protocatechuic acid , chemistry , dioxygenase , anthranilic acid , phthalate , biochemistry , hydroxybenzoic acid , hydrolysis , organic chemistry , stereochemistry , enzyme , antioxidant
a Micrococcus sp. isolated by isophthalate enrichment, utilized 8 of the 13 substituted benzoic acids tested as the sole source of carbon and energy. The organism degraded benzoic acid and anthranilic acid through the intermediate formation of catechol. While salicylate is metabolized through genetisic acid, p ‐hydroxybenzoic acid is degraded through protocatechuic acid. The organism grew well on isophthalate but failed to utilize phthalate and terphthalate. Catechol disoxygenase, gentisate dioxygenase and protocatechuate dioxygenase activities were shown in the cell‐free extracts. Catechol and protocatechuate are further metabolized through an ortho ‐cleavage pathway.