title: Bacterial metabolism of 2,6-xylenol.
abstract: Strain DM1, a Mycobacterium sp. that utilizes 2,6-xylenol, 2,3,6-trimethylphenol, and o-cresol as sources of carbon and energy, was isolated. Intact cells of Mycobacterium strain DM1 grown with 2,6-xylenol cooxidized 2,4,6-trimethylphenol to 2,4,6-trimethylresorcinol. 4-Chloro-3,5-dimethylphenol prevents 2,6-xylenol from being totally degraded; it was quantitatively converted to 2,6-dimethylhydroquinone by resting cells. 2,6-Dimethylhydroquinone, citraconate, and an unidentified metabolite were detected as products of 2,6-xylenol oxidation in cells that were partially inactivated by EDTA. Under oxygen limitation, 2,6-dimethylhy-droquinone, citraconate, and an unidentified metabolite were released during 2,6-xylenol turnover by resting cells. Cell extracts of 2,6-xylenol-grown cells contained a 2,6-dimethylhydroquinone-converting enzyme. When supplemented with NADH, cell extracts catalyzed the reduction of 2,6-dimethyl-3-hydroxyquinone to 2,6-dimethyl-3-hydroxyhydroquinone. Since a citraconase was also demonstrated in cell extracts, a new metabolic pathway with 2,6-dimethyl-3-hydroxyhydroquinone as the ring fission substrate is proposed.
authors.affiliation: Fraunhofer-Institut für Grenzflächen- und Bioverfahrenstechnik, D-7000 Stuttgart 80, Technische Universität Hamburg-Harburg, D-2100 Hamburg 90, and Universität Stuttgart, D-7000 Stuttgart 1, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ewers
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Rubio
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Knackmuss
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Freier-Schröder