Browsing by Author "Engesser, Karl-Heinrich"

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Open Access
3-(2-hydroxyphenyl)catechol as substrate for proximal meta ring cleavage in dibenzofuran degradation by Brevibacterium sp. strain DPO 1361
(1991) Strubel, Volker; Engesser, Karl-Heinrich; Fischer, Peter; Knackmuss, Hans-Joachim
Brevibacterium sp. strain DPO 1361 oxygenates dibenzofuran in the unusual angular position. The 3-(2-hydroxyphenyl)catechol thus generated is subject to meta ring cleavage in the proximal position, yielding 2-hydroxy-6-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-6-oxo-2,4-hexadienoic acid, which is hydrolyzed to 2-oxo-4-pentenoate and salicylate by 2-hydroxy-6-oxo-6-phenyl-2,4-hexadienoic acid hydrolase. The proximal mode of ring cleavage is definitely established by isolation and unequivocal structural characterization of a cyclization product of 2-hydroxy-6-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-6-oxo-2,4-hexadienoic acid, i.e., 3-(chroman-4-on-2-yl)pyruvate.
Open Access
3-Fluorobenzoate enriched bacterial strain FLB 300 degrades benzoate and all three isomeric monofluorobenzoates
(1990) Engesser, Karl-Heinrich; Auling, Georg; Busse, Jürgen; Knackmuss, Hans-Joachim
The bacterial strain FLB300 was enriched with 3-fluorobenzoate as sole carbon source. Besides benzoate all isomeric monofluorobenzoates were utilized. Regioselective 1,2-dioxygenation rather than 1,6-dioxygenation yielded 4-fluorocatechol and minimized the production of toxic 3-fluorocatechol. Degradation of 4-fluorocatechol was mediated by reactions of ortho cleavage pathway activities. Chemotaxonomic and r-RNA data excluded strain FLB300 from a phylogenetically defined genus Pseudomonas and suggested its allocation to the alpha-2 subclass of Proteobacteria in a new genus of the Agrobacterium-Rhizobium branch.
Open Access
(+)-4-Carboxymethyl-2,4-dimethylbut-2-en-4-olide as dead-end metabolite of 2,4-dimethylphenoxyacetic acid or 2,4-dimethylphenol by alcaligenes eutrophus JMP 134
(1990) Pieper, Dietmar H.; Engesser, Karl-Heinrich; Knackmuss, Hans-Joachim
2,4-Dimethylphenoxyacetic acid and 2,4-dimethylphenol are not growth substrates for Alcaligenes eutrophus JMP 134 although being cooxidized by 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetate grown cells. None of the relevant catabolic pathways were induced by the dimethylphenoxyacetate, 3,5-Dimethylcatechol is not subject to metacleavage. The alternative ortho-eleavage is also unproductive and gives rise to (+)-4-carboxymethyl-2,4-dimethylbut-2-en-4-olide as a dead-end metabolite. High yields of this metabolite were obtained with the mutant Alcaligenes eutrophys JMP 134-1 which constitutively expresses the genes of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid metabolism.
Open Access
Der Abbau von Modellstrukturen der Kohle: Stoffwechselweg des Dibenzofuran- und Fluorenabbaus
(1991) Engesser, Karl-Heinrich; Strubel, Volker; Trenz, Stefan Peter; Rothe, Bernd; Schmid, Andreas; Knackmuss, Hans-Joachim
Several microorganisms have been isolated degrading structural elements of coal like dibenzofuran. fluorene and biphenyl. Extensive investigation of the degradation pathways revealed a common mechanism of initial attack. Although catalyzed by different enzymes, all three substrates are converted to 3-phenyl-substituted catechols, which, after meta-cleavage are transformed to simple aromatic structures like salicylate, phthalate and benzoate. This ring cleaving enzymes have been cloned and are further analyzed after subcloning. Two different initial dioxygenases seem to be present in some strains cataIyzing ether cleavage of dibenzofuran and oxygenation of biphenyl respectively. Attempts are presently made to clone the first enzyme in order to produce higher yields of its optically active products. Some of these compounds have been characterized and may be of commercial value as fine chemicals.
Open Access
Assemblage of ortho cleavage route for simultaneous degradation of chloro- and methylaromatics
(1987) Rojo, Fernando; Pieper, Dietmar H.; Engesser, Karl-Heinrich; Knackmuss, Hans-Joachim; Timmis, Kenneth N.
Genetic engineering is a powerful means of accelerating the evolution of new biological activities and has considerable potential for constructing microorganisms that can degrade environmental pollutants. Critical enzymes from five different catabolic pathways of three distinct soil bacteria have been combined in patchwork fashion into a functional ortho cleavage route for the degradation of methylphenols and methylbenzoates. The new bacterium thereby evolved was able to degrade and grow on mixtures of chloro- and methylaromatics that were toxic even for the bacteria that could degrade the individual components of the mixtures. Except for one enzymatic step, the pathway was fully regulated and its component enzymes were only synthesized in response to the presence of pathway substrates.
Open Access
Bacterial metabolism of side chain fluorinated aromatics: cometabolism of 3-trifluoromethyl(TFM)-benzoate by Pseudomonas putida (arvilla) mt-2 and Rhodococcus rubropertinctus N657
(1988) Engesser, Karl-Heinrich; Cain, Ronald B.; Knackmuss, Hans-Joachim
The TOL plasmid-encoded enzymes of the methyl-benzoate pathway in Pseudomonas putida mt-2 cometabolized 3-trifluoromethyl (TFM)-benzoate. Two products, 3-TFM-1,2-dihydroxy-2-hydrobenzoate (3-TFM-DHB) and 2-hydroxy-6-oxo-7,7,7-trifluoro-hepta-2,4-dienoate (7-TFHOD) were identified chemically and by spectroscopic properties. TFM-substituted analogues of the metabolites of the methylbenzoate pathway were generally converted at drastically reduced rates. The catechol-2,3-dioxygenase from Pseudomonas putida showed moderate turnover rates with 3-TFM-catechol. The catechol-1,2-dioxygenase of Rhodococcus rubropertinctus N657 was totally inhibited by 3-TFM-catechol and did not cleave this substrate. Hammett-type analysis showed the catechol-1,2-dioxygenase reaction to be strongly dependent on the electronic nature of the substituents. Electronegative substituents strongly inhibited catechol cleavage. The catechol-2,3-dioxygenase reaction, however, was only moderately sensitive to electronegative substituents.
Open Access
Bacterial metabolism of side chain fluorinated aromatics: cometabolism of 4-trifluoromethyl(TFM)-benzoate by 4-isopropylbenzoate grown Pseudomonas putida JT strains
(1988) Engesser, Karl-Heinrich; Rubio, Miguel Angel; Ribbons, Douglas W.
Enzymes of the p-cymene pathway in Pseudomonas putida strains cometabolized the intermediate analogue 4-trifluoromethyl(TFM)benzoate. Three products, 4-TFM-2,3-dihydro-2,3-dihydroxybenzoate, 4-TFM-2,3-dihydroxy-benzoate and 2-hydroxy-6-oxo-7,7,7-trifluorohepta-2,4-dienoate (7-TFHOD) were identified chemically and by spectroscopic proterties.Certain TFM-substituted analogue metabolites of the p-cymene pathway were transformed at drastically reduced rates. Hammett type analysis of ring cleavage reactions of 4-substituted 2,3-dihydroxybenzoates revealed the negative inductive and especially mesomeric effect of substituents to be rate determining. Whereas decarboxylation of 3-carboxy-7-TFHOD was not affected by fluorine substitution the subsequent hydrolysis of 7-TFHOD proceeded very slowly. The negative inductive effect of the TFM-group probably inhibited heterolysis of the carbon bond between C5 and C6 of 7-TFHOD.
Open Access
Bacterial metabolism of side-chain-fluorinated aromatics: unproductive meta-cleavage of 3-trifluoromethylcatechol
(1990) Engesser, Karl-Heinrich; Rubio, Miguel Angel; Knackmuss, Hans-Joachim
Sixteen bacterial strains capable of degrading alkylbenzenes and alkylphenols were directly isolated from soil and water. The degradation pathways are discussed. Alkylcatechols are almost exclusively cleaved via meta-ring fission. Meta-cleavage of 3-trifluoromethyl-(TFM)-catechol was observed with all strains at different rates although the reaction rates compared to catechol as a substrate varied considerably. All 2-hydroxy-6-oxohepta-2,4-dienoic acid hydrolases investigated showed strong binding of 7,7,7-trifluoro-2-hydroxy-6-oxohepta-2,4-dienoic acid, the ring fission product of 3-TFM-catechol. Turnover rates, however, were negligible indicating this compound to be a general dead-end metabolite during metabolism of TFM-substituted compounds via meta-cleavage pathways.
Open Access
Degradation of 2-bromo-, 2-chloro- and 2-fluorobenzoate by Pseudomonas putida CLB 250
(1989) Engesser, Karl-Heinrich; Schulte, P.
Pseudomonas putida strain CLB 250 (DSM 5232) utilized 2-bromo-, 2-chloro- and 2-fluorobenzoate as sole source of carbon and energy. Degradation is suggested to be initiated by a dioxygenase liberating halide in the first catabolic step. After decarboxylation and rearomatization catechol is produced as a central metabolite which is degraded via the ortho-pathway. After inhibition of ring cleavage activities with 3-chlorocatechol, 2-chlorobenzoate was transformed to catechol in nearly stoichiometric amounts. Other ortho-substituted benzoates like anthranilate and 2-methoxybenzoate seem to be metabolized via the same route.
Open Access
Degradation of fluorene by Brevibacterium sp. strain DPO 1361: a novel C-C bond cleavage mechanism via 1,10-dihydro-1,10-dihydroxyfluoren-9-one
(1994) Trenz, Stefan Peter; Engesser, Karl-Heinrich; Fischer, Peter; Knackmuss, Hans-Joachim
Angular dioxygenation has been established as the crucial step in dibenzofuran degradation by Brevibacterium sp. strain DPO 1361 (V. Strubel, K. H. Engesser, P. Fischer, and H.-J. Knackmuss, J. Bacteriol. 173:1932-1937, 1991). The same strain utilizes biphenyl and fluorene as sole sources of carbon and energy. The fluorene degradation sequence is proposed to be initiated by oxidation of the fluorene methylene group to 9-fluorenol. Cells grown on fluorene exhibit pronounced 9-fluorenol dehydrogenase activity. Angular dioxygenation of the 9-fluorenone thus formed yields 1,10-dihydro-1,10-dihydroxyfluoren-9-one (DDF). A mechanistic model is presented for the subsequent C-C bond cleavage by an NAD(+)-dependent DDF dehydrogenase, acting on the angular dihydrodiol. This enzyme was purified and characterized as a tetramer of four identical 40-kDa subunits. The following Km values were determined: 13 microM for DDF and 65 microM for 2,3-dihydro-2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl. The enzyme also catalyzes the production of 3-(2'-carboxyphenyl)catechol, which was isolated, and structurally characterized, in the form of the corresponding lactone, 4-hydroxydibenzo-(b,d)-pyran-6-one. Stoichiometry analysis unequivocally demonstrates that angular dioxygenation constitutes the principal pathway in Brevibacterium sp. strain DPO 1361.
Open Access
Degradation of haloaromatic compounds
(1991) Engesser, Karl-Heinrich; Fischer, Peter
An ever increasing number of halogenated organic compounds has been produced by industry in the last few decades. These compounds are employed as biocides, for synthetic polymers, as solvents, and as synthetic intermediates. Production figures are often incomplete, and total production has frequently to be extrapolated from estimates for individual countries. Compounds of this type as a rule are highly persistent against biodegradation and belong, as "recalcitrant" chemicals, to the class of so-called xenobiotics. This term is used to characterise chemical substances which have no or limited structural analogy to natural compounds for which degradation pathways have evolved over billions of years. Xenobiotics frequently have some common features. e.g. high octanol/water partitioning coefficients and low water solubility which makes for a high accumulation ratio in the biosphere (bioaccumulation potential). Recalcitrant compounds therefore are found accumulated in mammals, especially in fat tissue, animal milk supplies and also in human milk. Highly sophisticated analytical techniques have been developed for the detection of organochlorines at the trace and ultratrace level.
Open Access
Degradation of toluene by ortho cleavage enzymes in Burkholderia fungorum FLU100
(2014) Dobslaw, Daniel; Engesser, Karl-Heinrich
Burkholderia fungorum FLU100 simultaneously oxidized any mixture of toluene, benzene and monohalogen benzenes to (3-substituted) catechols with a selectivity of nearly 100%. Further metabolism occurred via enzymes of ortho cleavage pathways with complete mineralization. During the transformation of 3-methylcatechol, 4-carboxymethyl-2-methylbut-2-en-4-olide (2-methyl-2-enelactone, 2-ML) accumulated transiently, being further mineralized only after a lag phase of 2 h in case of cells pre-grown on benzene or mono-halogen benzenes. No lag phase, however, occurred after growth on toluene. Cultures inhibited by chloramphenicol after growth on benzene or mono-halogen benzenes were unable to metabolize 2-ML supplied externally, even after prolonged incubation. A control culture grown with toluene did not show any lag phase and used 2-ML as a substrate. This means that 2-ML is an intermediate of toluene degradation and converted by specific enzymes. The conversion of 4-methylcatechol as a very minor by-product of toluene degradation in strain FLU100 resulted in the accumulation of 4-carboxymethyl-4-methylbut-2-en-4-olide (4-methyl-2-enelactone, 4-ML) as a dead-end product, excluding its nature as a possible intermediate. Thus, 3-methylcyclohexa-3,5-diene-1,2-diol, 3-methylcatechol, 2-methyl muconate and 2-ML were identified as central intermediates of productive ortho cleavage pathways for toluene metabolism in B. fungorum FLU100.
Open Access
Dioxygenolytic cleavage of aryl ether bonds: 1,10-dihydro-1,10-dihydroxyfluoren-9-one, a novel arene dihydrodiol as evidence for angular dioxygenation of dibenzofuran
(1989) Engesser, Karl-Heinrich; Strubel, Volker; Christoglou, Konstantinos; Fischer, Peter; Rast, Hans G.
Two dibenzofuran degrading bacteria, Brevibacterium strain DPO 1361 and strain DPO 220, were found to utilize fluorene as sole source of carbon and energy. Cells which were grown on dibenzofuran, transformed fluorene into a number of products. For five of the seven metabolites isolated, the structure could be established unequivocally. Accumulation of one metabolite, 1,10-dihydroxy-1, 10-dihydrofluoren-9-one, indicated the presence of a novel type of dioxygenase, attacking polynuclear aromatic systems in the unusual angular position. Dibenzofuran degradation is proposed to likewise proceed via initial angular dioxygenation. Only aryl oxygen ether bond, which normally is extremely stable, is thus transformed to a hemiacetal. After spontaneous cleavage and subsequent rearomatization by dehydration, 2,2′,3-trihydroxybiphenyl [3-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-catechol] thus results as the immediate product of the first enzymatic reaction in the degradation sequence.
Open Access
Dioxygenolytic cleavage of aryl ether bonds: 1,2-Dihydro-1,2-dihydroxy-4-carboxybenzophenone as evidence for initial 1,2-dioxygenation in 3- and 4-carboxy biphenyl ether degradation
(1990) Engesser, Karl-Heinrich; Fietz, Walter H.; Fischer, Peter; Schulte, P.; Knackmuss, Hans-Joachim
A bacterial strain, Pseudomonas sp. POB 310, was enriched with 4-carboxy biphenyl ether as sole source of carbon and energy. Resting cells of POB 310 co-oxidize a substrate analogue, 4-carboxybenzophenone, yielding 1,2-dihydro-1,2-dihydroxy-4-carboxy-benzophenone. The ether bond of 3- and 4-carboxy biphenyl ether is cleaved analogously by initial 1,2-dioxygenation, yielding a hemiacetal which is hydrolysed to proto-catechuate and phenol. These intermediates are degraded via an ortho and meta pathway, respectively. Alternative 2,3- and 3,4-dioxygenation can be ruled out as triggering steps in carboxy biphenyl ether degradation.
Open Access
Einsatz von Gensonden zur Identifikation von Mikroorganismen im belebten Schlamm
(1994) Engesser, Karl-Heinrich; Schmid, Andreas
Die Gensondentechnik stellt heute schon einen extrem leistungsfähigen, neuartigen Ansatz zur Populationsanalyse komplexer Ökosysteme und damit auch der Charakterisierung der "Biomasse" des Belebtschlammes dar. Für die Gensondentechnik typisch ist ein relativ geringer Zeitaufwand bei der Durchführung. Dies ermöglicht erstmals die Analyse der Dynamik einer Population nahezu in Echtzeit.
Open Access
Emission von Pilzsporen in Müllverarbeitungsanlagen
(1994) Göttlich, Elke; Engesser, Karl-Heinrich; Bardtke, Dieter
Die Häufigkeit und Sporendichte verschiedener Pilzarten in der Luft von Kompostwerken, bei der Sortierung, Müllverbrennung und auf Deponien wurden in einer Studie in 11 Betrieben untersucht. Außer A. fumigatus, über dessen klinische und allergologische Bedeutung die meisten Kenntnisse vorliegen, wurden verschiedene Pilzarten, die als potentiell gesundheitlich relevant angesehen werden,in Keimdichten über den derzeitigen Orientierungswerten für Pilzbelastungen der Luft nachgewiesen. Obwohl vergleichbare Daten zumeist fehlen und daher gesicherte Richtgrenzwerte gegenwärtig nicht festgelegt werden können, sind die gesundheitlichen Risiken der Beschäftigten an den Arbeitsplätzen als erheblich anzusehen.
Open Access
Enrichment of dibenzofuran utilizing bacteria with high co-metabolic potential towards dibenzodioxin and other anellated aromatics
(1989) Strubel, Volker; Rast, Hans G.; Fietz, Walter H.; Knackmuss, Hans-Joachim; Engesser, Karl-Heinrich
Dibenzofuran degrading bacteria were enriched from various environmental sources. A mutualistic mixed culture of strain DPO 220 and strain DPO 230 was characterized. Strain DPO 220 alone showed limited growth with dibenzofuran as sole source of carbon and energy (td ≥ 4.5 h). A labile degradation product, C12H10O5, and salicylate were isolated from the culture fluid. Salicylate was found to be a central intermediate of DBF-degradation.Strain DPO 220 co-metabolized a wide range of anellated aromatics as well as heteroaromatics. High rates of co-oxidation of dibenzodioxin demonstrate analogue-enrichment to be a powerful technique for selecting enzymatic activities for otherwise non-degradable substrates.
Open Access
Isolation and characterization of 2-butoxyethanol degrading bacterial strains
(2020) Woiski, Christine; Dobslaw, Daniel; Engesser, Karl-Heinrich
A total of 11 bacterial strains capable of completely degrading 2-butoxyethanol (2-BE) were isolated from forest soil, a biotrickling filter, a bioscrubber, and activated sludge, and identified by 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. Eight of these strains belong to the genus Pseudomonas; the remaining three strains are Hydrogenophaga pseudoflava BOE3, Gordonia terrae BOE5, and Cupriavidus oxalaticus BOE300. In addition to 2-BE, all isolated strains were able to grow on 2-ethoxyethanol and 2-propoxyethanol, ethanol, n-hexanol, ethyl acetate, 2-butoxyacetic acid (2-BAA), glyoxylic acid, and n-butanol. Apart from the only gram-positive strain isolated, BOE5, none of the strains were able to grow on the nonpolar ethers diethyl ether, di-n-butyl ether, n-butyl vinyl ether, and dibenzyl ether, as well as on 1-butoxy-2-propanol. Strains H. pseudoflava BOE3 and two of the isolated pseudomonads, Pseudomonas putida BOE100 and P. vancouverensis BOE200, were studied in more detail. The maximum growth rates of strains BOE3, BOE100, and BOE200 at 30 °C were 0.204 h-1 at 4 mM, 0.645 h-1 at 5 mM, and 0.395 h-1 at 6 mM 2-BE, respectively. 2-BAA, n-butanol, and butanoic acid were detected as potential metabolites during the degradation of 2-BE. These findings indicate that the degradation of 2-BE by the isolated gram-negative strains proceeds via oxidation to 2-BAA with subsequent cleavage of the ether bond yielding glyoxylate and n-butanol. Since Gordonia terrae BOE5 was the only strain able to degrade nonpolar ethers like diethyl ether, the degradation pathway of 2-BE may be different for this strain.
Open Access
Kombination aus Biowäscher- und Biomembranverfahren zur Reinigung von Abluft und hydrophilen und hydrophoben Inhaltsstoffen
(1994) Reiser, Martin; Fischer, Klaus; Engesser, Karl-Heinrich
Abluft, die eine Mischung aus wasserlöslichen uod wasserunlöslichen organischen Lösungsmitteln enthält, stellt für ein biologisches Reinigungsverfahren eine große Herausforderung dar. Durch Kombination eines Biomembranreaktors mit Silikonkautschukmembranen und einem Biowäscher konnten für ein Gemisch von Methanol, n-Hexan und Toluol in der Abluft gute Reinigungsleistungen erzielt werden.
Open Access
Metabolism of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, 4-chloro-2-methylphenoxyacetic acid and 2-methylphenoxyacetic acid by Alcaligenes eutrophus JMP 134
(1988) Pieper, Dietmar H.; Reineke, Walter; Engesser, Karl-Heinrich; Knackmuss, Hans-Joachim
Of eleven substituted phenoxyacetic acids tested, only three (2,4-dichloro-, 4-chloro-2-methyl- and 2-methylphenoxyacetic acid) served as growth substrates for Alcaligenes eutrophus JMP 134. Whereas only one enzyme seems to be responsible for the initial cleavage of the ether bond, there was evidence for the presence of three different phenol hydroxylases in this strain. 3,5-Dichlorocatechol and 5-chloro-3-methylcatechol, metabolites of the degradation of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and 4-chloro-2-methylphenoxyacetic acid, respectively, were exclusively metabolized via the ortho-cleavage pathway. 2-Methylphenoxyacetic acid-grown cells showed simultaneous induction of meta- and ortho-cleavage enzymes. Two catechol 1,2-dioxygenases responsible for ortho-cleavage of the intermediate catechols were partially purified and characterized. One of these enzymes converted 3,5-dichlorocatechol considerably faster than catechol or 3-chlorocatechol. A new enzyme for the cycloisomerisation of muconates was found, which exhibited high activity against the ring-cleavage products of 3,5-dichlorocatechol and 4-chlorocatechol, but low activities against 2-chloromuconate and muconate.