2 NOVEL METABOLITES IN THE DEGRADATION PATHWAY OF ISOQUINOLINE BY PSEUDOMONAS-DIMINUTA-7

Pseudomonas diminuta 7 utilizes isoquinoline as sole source of carbon, nitrogen, and energy. Mutagenesis of Psendomonas diminuta 7 with N-me thyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine led to the isolation of two mutants w hich accumulated protocatechuate. Resting cells of wild-type Pseudomon as diminuta 7 produced phthalate as further intermediate of isoquinoli ne degradation. Crude extracts transformed 4,5-dihydroxyphthalate to p rotocatechuate, which was subjected to meta-cleavage. A putative degra dation pathway of isoquinoline is proposed.