Degradation of phenol through ortho-cleavage pathway by Pseudomonas stutzeri strain SPC2

Generally pseudomonads degrade phenol through the meta-pathway, but Pseudomonas stutzeri strain SPC2 isolated by flask enrichment of municipal sewage degraded phenol through the ortho-pathway. The strain utilized up to 1200 ppm of phenol as a sole source of carbon and energy. The strain also degraded benzoate and 4-hydroxy and 3,4-dihydroxybenzoates via the ortho-pathway. Cell-free extracts of the strain grown on these substrates showed fairly good catechol 1,2-dioxygenase (C1,2-D) and protocatechuate 3,4-dioxyenase (PCA 3,4-D) activities, the induction of both activities being increased by benzoate. No meta-cleavage activities were detected.