Metabolism of chlorotoluenes by Burkholderia sp. strain PS12 and toluene dioxygenase of Pseudonomas putida F1: evidence for monooxygenation by toluene and chlorobenzene dioxygenases

The metabolism of 2-chloro and 3-chlorotoluene by Burkholderia sp. strain PS12 and Pseudomonas putida F1 was analyzed to determine the biochemical characteristics of the doixygenolytic pathway. The toluene dioxygenase of Pseudomonas putida F1 and the chlorobenzene dioxygenase of Burkholderia sp. PS12 strain catalyzed the conversion of 2-, 3- and 4-chlorotoluene to dihydrodiols. The synthetic process was characterized by the formation of minor products such as methyl- and chloro-substituted 1,2-dihydroxycyclohexadienes from 2- and 3-chlorotoluene.