Research Product

Expression of the "lower" catabolic pathway of the TOL plasmid, pWWO, requires an aromatic acid inducer and the product of the xylS regulatory gene. Pseudomonas putida cells transformed with a plasmid containing the operator promoter region of the lower pathway (OP2,[ Pm]) upstream from the catechol 2,3-dioxygenase structural gene showed enzyme induction in the absence of known TOL plasmid regulatory genes. Induction was not seen in transformed Escherichia coli cells or in a P. putida mutant lacking chromosomally-encoded benzoated catabolic functions.