bphA Gene Research Articles

Gene manipulation of catabolic activities for production of intermediates of various biphenyl compounds

A bioconversion process was demonstrated by manipulation of catabolic genes. Catabolic intermediates of various biphenyl compounds could be efficiently produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa carrying recombinant plasmids containing a set of cloned bph genes. A dihydrodiol compound was produced by the strain carrying plasmid pMFB4 containing bphA (encoding biphenyl dioxygenase) gene. A dihydroxy compound was produced from 4-chlorobiphenyl by the strain carrying plasmid pMFB6 containing bphA and bphB (encoding dihydrodiol dehydrogenase) genes. Tetrahydroxybiphenyl was accumulated as the final product via dihydroxybiphenyl from biphenyl by the same pMFB6 carrying strain. Meta-cleavage yellow compounds were produced from biphenyl and its derivatives substituted with methyl, chloro, bromo, or nitro group on one of the biphenyl rings by the strain carrying plasmid pMFB2 containing bphA, bphB and bphC (encoding dihydroxybiphenyl dioxygenase) genes.