Metabolism of resorcinylic compounds by bacteria: new pathway for resorcinol catabolism in Azotobacter vinelandii.

We present evidence to document a third pathway for the microbial catabolism of resorcinol. Resorcinol is converted to pyrogallol by resorcinol-grown cells of Azotobacter vinelandii. Pyrogallol is the substrate for one of two ring cleavage enzymes induced by growth with resorcinol. Oxalocrotonate, CO2, pyruvate, and acetaldehyde have been identified as products of pyrogallol oxidation catalyzed by extracts of resorcinol-grown cells. The enzymes pyrogallol 1,2-dioxygenase, oxalocrotonate tautomerase (isomerase), oxalocrotonate decarboxylase, and vinylpyruvate hydratase are present in extracts from resorcinol-grown cells but not in succinate-grown cells.