title: Plasmid specifying total degradation of 3-chlorobenzoate by a modified ortho pathway.
abstract: A plasmid, termed pAC25, specifying biodegradation of 3-chlorobenzoate in a strain of Pseudomonas putida has been characterized. During growth of the plasmid-harboring cells with 3-chlorobenzoate, there was an accumulation of 3-chlorocatechol and beta-chloromuconic acid as intermediates and release of more than 80% of the chlorine in the form of inorganic chloride. The plasmid had a mean molecular mass of 68 x 10(6) daltons and was transmissible to a number of Pseudomonas species such as P. aeruginosa, P. putida strain PpG1, and P. putida strain PRS1. Transfer of pAC25 to various catechol-negative mutants of P. putida strain PRS1 showed that the chromosomally coded pyrocatechase was not complemented by the plasmid-specified pyrocatechase, which appeared to be specific for the chlorinated catechols. In contrast to benzoate, which was metabolized by the ortho pathway through beta-ketoadipate as an intermediate, the plasmid specified ortho cleavage of the chlorocatechols through maleylacetate as an intermediate.
mesh_terms: D050548:Catechol 1,2-Dioxygenase; D002712:Chlorides / Q000378:metabolism; D002723:Chlorobenzoates / Q000378:metabolism*; D003227:Conjugation, Genetic; D049308:Dioxygenases; D008298:Maleates / Q000378:metabolism; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010105:Oxygenases / Q000378:metabolism; D010957:Plasmids; D011549:Pseudomonas / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002712:Chlorides; D002723:Chlorobenzoates; D008298:Maleates; C011905:maleoylacetic acid; D010105:Oxygenases; D049308:Dioxygenases; D050548:Catechol 1,2-Dioxygenase