Microbial degradation of biaryl structures: relationships between fluorene, dibenzofuran and biphenyl pathways

Abstract

Initial dioxygenation of fluorene by dibenzofuran degrading strains occurs in the unusual angular position. The resulting dihydrodiendiol is converted to 3-(2-carboxyphenyl)catechol by action of a dehydrogenase. This is a novel activity for a dehydrogenase causing a C-C-bond cleavage. After growth with dibenzofuran and biphenyl respectively two different initial dioxygenases are expressed. The first enzyme shows a broad substrate range, the second enzyme only converts biphenyl. Strains degrading fluorene, dibenzofuran and biphenyl may constitute a unique physiological group.