Open AccessBenzene Metabolism of Moraxella Species
Author(s) -
Högn Thomas,
Jaenicke Lothar
Publication year - 1972
Publication title -
european journal of biochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1432-1033
pISSN - 0014-2956
DOI - 10.1111/j.1432-1033.1972.tb02107.x
Subject(s) - benzene , dehydrogenation , catalysis , moraxella , chemistry , bacteria , oxygenase , dioxygenase , strain (injury) , metabolism , octane , medicinal chemistry , stereochemistry , biochemistry , organic chemistry , enzyme , biology , genetics , anatomy
A benzene‐utilizing strain of Moraxella B (genus/Acinetobacter) was isolated from Rhine water. Cell‐free extracts of this bacterium, which is highly specific for the oxidation of benzene, require for this process catalytic amounts of NADH. This is regenerated during the course of the reaction by the dehydrogenation of cis ‐cyclohexadiene‐diol to pyrocatechol. The oxygenase system contains nonheme‐iron in the form of strongly bound Fe 2+ . It incorporates two atoms of oxygen simultaneously, as proven by isotope experiments; it is thus a dioxygenase. cis ‐1,2‐Dihydroxy‐dihydrobenzene was isolated as the first identifiable stable intermediate. This is further oxidized to pyrocatechol which is then eventually completely metabolized via the 3‐oxoadipic acid pathway.