Abstract

In order to characterize the metabolites produced in vivo by biphenyl-2,3-dioxygenase and biphenyl-2,3-dihydrodiol-2,3-dehydrogenase, the first two enzymes of the (polychloro)biphenyl catabolic pathway encoded by the bph locus of Pseudomonas sp. LB400, recombinant E. coli strains expressing the respective genes were constructed. Biphenyl-2,3-dioxygenase attack on 2,2'- or 2,4'-dichlorobiphenyl was shown to give rise to virtually quantitative ortho-dechlorination of these congeners by hydroxylation at the chlorinated carbon 2 and its unsubstituted neighbour. Elimination of hydrochloric acid directly leads to 2,3-dihydroxy-chlorobiphenyls and obviates the need for biphenyl-2,3-dihydrodiol-2,3-dehydrogenase for the catabolism of such congeners.