Chemical structure and biodegradability of halogenated aromatic compounds. Substituent effects on dehydrogenation of 3,5-cyclohexadiene-1,2-diol-1-carboxylic acid.

The dehydrogenation of substituted 3,5-cyclohexadiene-1,2-diol-1-carboxylic acids by dihydrodihydroxybenzoic acid dehydrogenases from benzoate grown cells of Alcaligenes eutrophus and Pseudomonas sp. B 13 and 3-chlorobenzoate grown cells of the latter organism was examined. No significant differences (Km and Vrel values) were detected for the enzymes from both organisms. The same dihydrodihydroxybenzoic acid dehydrogenase is formed in Pseudomonas sp. B13 during growth on benzoate as well as on 3-chlorobenzoate. The lower turnover rates of 3- and 5-chlorodrodihydroxybenzoic acid compared to dihydrodihydroxybenzoic acid are counterbalanced by an increase in specific activity. With the exception of 4-substituted dihydrodihydroxybenzoic acids exhibiting relative high Km values, only slight sterical and electronic substituent effects are evident. Reaction rates were never reduced to a critical level.