The Degradation Pathway of 4-Chlorobenzoic Acid by Genetically Modified Strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Pseudomonas aeruginosa a genetically modified strain degrading 4-chlorobenzoic acid was isolated from soil. This bacterium could degrade 15 mM of 4-chlorobenzoic acid rapidly with stoichiometric formation of chloride ion. The metabolites such as catechol and cis, cis-muconic acid was detected in the grown medium. Further, ring cleavage enzyme catechol 1, 2-dioxygenase was detected and isolated in crude cell extract. Thus, the biodegradation pathway of 4-chlorobenzoic acid by this bacterium was proposed involve the catechol as intermediate compound and further this converted into cis, cis-muconic acid by the process ortho ring cleavage pathway.