A PARA-SITE-SPECIFIC HYDROXYLATION OF AROMATIC-COMPOUNDS BY MYCOBACTERIUM SP STRAIN-12523 - STABILIZATION OF THE HYDROXYLATION ACTIVITY

Mycobacterium sp. strain 12523 has a parasite-specific hydroxylation a ctivity, which produce para-substituted phenols from various aromatic compounds. However, the activity is unstable and the reactions are ina ctivated within 24 h. In order to extend the reaction period, the fact ors that affected reaction stability were examined. The hydroxylation activity of the cells incubated in buffer was significantly stabilized by the inclusion of an inducer such as methyl ethyl ketone. It is sug gested that a regulatory mechanism is involved in controlling the acti vity. This study resulted in the development of a convenient method to stabilize the hydroxylation activity, involving the addition of an in ducer, such as acetone, to the reaction system. This method permitted the hydroxylation reaction to continue for more than 67 h.