A. Kitayama et al., GENE ORGANIZATION AND LOW REGIOSPECIFICITY IN AROMATIC-RING HYDROXYLATION OF A BENZENE MONOOXYGENASE OF PSEUDOMONAS-AERUGINOSA JI104, Journal of fermentation and bioengineering, 82(5), 1996, pp. 421-425
A novel benzene monooxygenase gene cluster has been cloned from Pseudo
monas aeruginosa J104 which was isolated from soil as a benzene degrad
er. The nucleotide sequence of this gene cluster was found to be highl
y homologous to those of other toluene monooxygenase gene clusters. Th
is multicomponent monooxygenase also has the capability to catalyze th
e hydroxylation of various alkylated aromatic hydrocarbons. The low re
giospecific hydroxylation was observed when toluene, o-xylene, ethyl b
enzene and n-propyl benzene were used as substrates.