Bioconversion of substituted naphthalenes to the corresponding 1,2-dihydroxy derivatives by escherichia coli recombinant strains

1,2-dihydroxynaphthalenes are produced by bioconversion of the corresponding hydrocarbons using Escherichia coli recombinant strains containing the naphthalene dioxygenase and dehydrogenase genes cloned from Pseudomonas fluorescens N3. Conversions are lead by a two step procedure without isolation of the dihydrodiol intermediate. Conversion rates depend on the position and nature of the naphthalene substituent (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.