Simultaneous biodegradation of chlorobenzene and toluene by a Pseudomonas strain.

Pseudomonas sp. strain JS6 grows on a wide range of chloro- and methylaromatic substrates. The simultaneous degradation of these compounds is prevented in most previously studied isolates because the catabolic pathways are incompatible. The purpose of this study was to determine whether strain JS6 could degrade mixtures of chloro- and methyl-substituted aromatic compounds. Strain JS6 was maintained in a chemostat on a minimal medium with toluene or chlorobenzene as the sole carbon source, supplied via a syringe pump. Strain JS6 contained an active catechol 2,3-dioxygenase when grown in the presence of chloroaromatic compounds; however, in cell extracts, this enzyme was strongly inhibited by 3-chlorocatechol. When cells grown to steady state on toluene were exposed to 50% toluene-50% chlorobenzene, 3-chlorocatechol and 3-methylcatechol accumulated in the medium and the cell density decreased. After 3 h, the enzyme activities of the modified ortho ring fission pathway were induced, the metabolites disappeared, and the cell density returned to previous levels. In cell extracts, 3-methylcatechol was degraded by both catechol 1,2- and catechol 2,3-dioxygenase. Strain JS62, a catechol 2,3-dioxygenase mutant of JS6, grew on toluene, and ring cleavage of 3-methylcatechol was catalyzed by catechol 1,2-dioxygenase. The transient metabolite 2-methyllactone was identified in chlorobenzene-grown JS6 cultures exposed to toluene. These results indicate that strain JS6 can degrade mixtures of chloro- and methylaromatic compounds by means of a modified ortho ring fission pathway.