Abstract

Pseudomonas sp. strain PPD and Alcaligenes sp. strain PPH isolated from soil by enrichment culture technique utilize 2-, 3- and 4-hydroxybenzoates as the sole source of carbon and energy. The degradation pathways were elucidated by performing whole-cell O(2) uptake, enzyme activity and induction studies. Depending on the mixture of carbon source and the preculture condition, strain PPH was found to degrade 2-hydroxybenzoate either via the catechol or gentisate route and has both salicylate 1-hydroxylase and salicylate 5-hydroxylase. Strain PPD utilizes 2-hydroxybenzoate via gentisate. Both strains degrade 3- and 4-hydroxybenzoate via gentisate and protocatechuate, respectively. Enzymes were induced by respective hydroxybenzoate. Growth pattern, O(2) uptake and enzyme activity profiles on the mixture of three hydroxybenzoates as a carbon source suggest coutilization by both strains. When 3- or 4-hydroxybenzoate grown culture was used as an inoculum, strain PPH failed to utilize 2-hydroxybenzoate via catechol, indicating the modulation of the metabolic pathways, thus generating metabolic diversity.