title: Oxidation of nitrotoluenes by toluene dioxygenase: evidence for a monooxygenase reaction.
abstract: Pseudomonas putida F1 and Pseudomonas sp. strain JS150 initiate toluene degradation by incorporating molecular oxygen into the aromatic nucleus to form cis-1,2-dihydroxy-3-methylcyclohexa-3,5-diene. When toluene-grown cells were incubated with 2- and 3-nitrotoluene, the major products identified were 2- and 3-nitrobenzyl alcohol, respectively. The same cells oxidized 4-nitrotoluene to 2-methyl-5-nitrophenol and 3-methyl-6-nitrocatechol. Escherichia coli JM109(pDTG601), which contains the toluene dioxygenase genes from P. putida F1 under the control of the tac promoter, oxidized the isomeric nitrotoluenes to the same metabolites as those formed by P. putida F1 and Pseudomonas sp. strain JS150. These results extend the range of substrates known to be oxidized by this versatile enzyme and demonstrate for the first time that toluene dioxygenase can oxidize an aromatic methyl substituent.
authors.affiliation: Air Force Civil Engineering Support Agency, Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida 32403.
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Robertson
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Spain
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Haddock
authors.forename: D T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Gibson
mesh_terms: D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010105:Oxygenases / Q000378:metabolism*; D011549:Pseudomonas / Q000378:metabolism*; D016958:Pseudomonas putida / Q000378:metabolism; D014050:Toluene / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C029956:3-nitrotoluene; D014050:Toluene; C029955:2-nitrotoluene; C017572:4-nitrotoluene; D010105:Oxygenases; C023172:toluene dioxygenase