Transformation of 3-chlorodibenzofuran by Pseudomonas sp. HH69

The dibenzofuran-degrading bacterial strain Pseudomonas sp. HH69 showed high oxidative activity towards 3-chlorodibenzofuran (3CDF). During the co-metabolic turnover of 3CDF large amounts of 4-chlorosalicylate and temporarily small amounts of salicylate were excreted. Simultaneously a yellow colour appeared due to the excretion of two polar products. Conversion of 3CDF by a mutant, derived from Pseudomonas sp. HH69 and defective in 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl-1,2-dioxygenase led to the formation of equal quantities of 4'-chloro-2,2',3-trihydroxybiphenyl (4'CTHBP) and 4-chloro-2,2',3-trihydroxybiphenyl (4CTHBP). Crude extracts of the wild type transformed 4'CTHBP to 4-chlorosalicylate, whilst 4CTHBP was transformed to salicylate. Hence, we propose a non-selective initial attack on both aromatic rings of 3CDF and a degradative pathway for the resulting chlorotrihydroxybiphenyls.