Nucleotide sequence and expression of the catechol 2,3-dioxygenase-encoding gene of phenol-catabolizing Pseudomonas CF600.

Pseudomonas CF600 degrades phenol and some of its methylated derivatives via a plasmid-encoded catabolic pathway. The catechol 2,3-dioxygenase (C23O) enzyme of this pathway catalyses the conversion of catechol to 2-hydroxymuconic semialdehyde. We have determined the nucleotide (nt) sequence of the dmpB structural gene for this enzyme, and expressed and identified its polypeptide product in Escherichia coli. The xylE gene of TOL plasmid pWWO and the nahH gene of plasmid NAH7 encode analogous C23O enzymes. Comparison of these three genes shows homology of 78-81% on the nt level and 83-87% homology on the amino acid level.