A mutant of Psedomonas puiida with altered regulation of the enzymes for degradation of phenol and cresols

Abstract

A mutant strain of Pseudomonas putida NCIB 10015 has been isolated that is unable to utilize para -cresol as a sole carbon source. The mutant strain grows very poorly when meta -cresol is to be utilized but grows rapidly at the expense of phenol or ortho -cresol. Preliminary evidence is presented that this mutant strain has a regulatory element of altered specificity. This regulatory element determines the induction of all known enzymes involved in the metabolism of phenol and ortho, meta and para -cresol. This is the first report of a mutation affecting the regulation of meta-cleavage enzymes.