title: Metabolism of phenol and cresols by Bacillus stearothermophilus.
abstract: An obligate thermophilic strain of Bacillus stearothermophilus, strain PH24, isolated from industrial sediment by elective culture, grew readily at 55 C on phenol or on one of the isomers of cresol as the major carbon source. Intact cells grown in the presence of phenol, o-cresol, m-cresol, or p-cresol were induced to oxidize, without lag, these substrates together with catechol, 3-methylcatechol, and 4-methylcatechol. Cell extracts prepared from B. stearothermophilus PH24 after growth in the presence of phenol converted phenol to catechol with a concomitant uptake of 1 mol of oxygen per mol of substrate in reaction mixtures supplemented with reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide. These preparations also catalyzed the oxidation of o-cresol to 3-methylcatechol and of m-cresol and p-cresol to 4-methylcatechol. Enzyme activity was inhibited by 1 mM p-chloromercuribenzoate and by 0.1 mM 0-phenanthroline. Catechol and the corresponding methylcatechol intermediates were further dissimilated by cell extracts of phenol-grown cells via the meta-cleavage route to yield 2-hydroxymuconic semialdehyde and the respective methylated derivatives.
mesh_terms: D002396:Catechols / Q000378:metabolism; D002474:Cell-Free System; D002729:Chloromercuribenzoates / Q000494:pharmacology; D003408:Cresols / Q000378:metabolism*; D001411:Geobacillus stearothermophilus / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006899:Mixed Function Oxygenases / Q000378:metabolism; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010105:Oxygenases / Q000378:metabolism; D010618:Phenanthrolines / Q000494:pharmacology; D010636:Phenols / Q000378:metabolism*; D013237:Stereoisomerism
chemical_list: D002396:Catechols; D002729:Chloromercuribenzoates; D003408:Cresols; D010618:Phenanthrolines; D010636:Phenols; D006899:Mixed Function Oxygenases; D010105:Oxygenases