Alkylphenol hydroxylases in the oxidation ofp-cresol, 4-ethylphenol and 4-n-propylphenol byPseudomonas putidaJD1

Growth of Pseudomonas putida JD1 on 4-ethylphenol results in the production of the flavocytochrome c, 4-ethylphenol methylenehydroxylase. Both p-cresol and 4-n-propylphenol are substrates for this enzyme. 4-Ethylphenol methylenehydroxylase is also produced by the organism when grown with 4-n-propylphenol. However, when grown with p-cresol, a different hydroxylase is produced which shows greater activity towards p-cresol than towards 4-ethylphenol, and is not active towards 4-n-propylphenol.