Disclosed are novel DNA sequences susceptible to expression in a microorganism in the form of synthesis of one or more enzymes participative in the microbiological oxidative degradation of a selected aromatic hydrocarbon substrate to a selected oxidized compound which is an intermediate in a multiple enzyme-catalyzed degradative pathway for total mineralization of said substrate. The DNA sequences are characterized by being substantially free from operative association with DNA sequences susceptible to expression in the form of synthesis of one or more enzymes participative in oxidative degradation of said selected intermediate compound. Illustrative of the invention is a plasmidborne DNA sequence of Pseudomonas putida origin which codes for expression, in a host microorganism such as E coli, of enzymes participative in the oxidative degradation of naphthalene to salicylate. Cultured growth of stably transformed host cells in a medium including a naphthalene substrate results in quantitative naphthalene degradation and accumulation of isolatable quantities of, e.g., salicylate products.
本发明公开了可在微
生物中以合成一种或多种酶的形式表达的新型DNA序列,这些酶可参与选定
芳香烃底物的微
生物氧化降解,将其转化为选定的氧化化合物,该氧化化合物是所述底物完全矿化的多种酶催化降解途径中的中间产物。DNA 序列的特征是基本上不与 DNA 序列发生作用关联,这些 DNA 序列容易以合成一种或多种参与所述选定中间化合物氧化降解的酶的形式表达。本发明的例证是一种源自假单胞菌(Pseudomonas putida)的质粒DNA序列,其编码可在宿主微
生物(如大肠杆菌)中表达参与将
萘氧化降解为
水杨酸的酶。稳定转化的宿主细胞在含有
萘底物的
培养基中培养生长,可定量降解
萘,并积累可分离的
水杨酸产物等。