[Peripheral metabolism of isomeric xylenes by Pseudomonas aeruginosa]

Microbiological oxidation of xylenes was studied with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, strain 7. The culture grows on m-xylene and, at a lower rate, on p-xylene, but does not grow on o-xylene though partly oxidizes it. Pathways of primary enzymatic oxidation of xylenes by the culture were established. Oxidation of m-xylene follows the pathway described earlier but methylsalicylic acid formed is not accumulated in the medium and is transformed into 3-methylcatechol. The aromatic ring is splitted according to the meta pathway. It has been demonstrated for the first time that o-xylene is oxidized to o-hydroxymethylbenzoic acid.