METABOLISM OF AROMATIC ACIDS BY PSEUDOMONAS TESTOSTERONI AND P ACIDOVORANS

Pseudomonas testosteroni oxidizes benzoate, m-hydroxy-benzoate and p-hydroxybenzoate to protocatechuate which is dissimi-lated through the meta cleavage pathway. P. acidovorans uses the same pathway for the oxidation of p-hydroxybenzoate, but employs the gentisate pathway for the oxidation of m-hydroxybenz oate. The difference between the 2 species with respect to m-hydroxybenzoate metabolism reflects a difference with respect to the specificity of their m-hydroxybenzoate hydroxylases; the enzyme of P. testosteroni hydroxylates in the 4 position, and that of P. acidovorans in the 6 position.