THE METABOLISM OF AROMATIC COMPOUNDS WITH DIFFERENT SIDE CHAINS BY A PSEUDOMONAS

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Abstract
A strain of Pseudomonas previously used to study the oxidative degradation of phenylacetic acid and phenylpropionic acid has been used to study the degradation of p-hydroxybenzoic acid, L-tyrosine, L-phenylalanine, phenylbutyric acid, and phenylvaleric acid. p-Hydroxybenzoic acid was converted to 3, 4-dihydroxy-benzoic acid and the aromatic ring was cleaved between carbons 3 and 4. Previous results showed that cleavage of 3, 4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid occurred between carbons 2 and 3. Phenylalanine and tyrosine were metabolized by the homogentisic acid pathway. These results, together with results of previous work, suggest that the pathway used for the degradation of aromatic compounds by this organism varies with the nature of the side chain. The metabolism of aromatic compounds with side chains longer than three carbons appears to involve oxidative shortening of the side chain prior to cleavage of the aromatic ring.

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