Incorporation of [18O]water in the formation of p-hydroxybenzyl alcohol by the p-cresol methylhydroxylase from Pseudomonas putida

• DOI: 10.1042/bj1750345
• Publication Date: 2015-08-10T20:13:23Z
• Authors: D J Hopper
• Keywords: Chemistry; Cresols; 0303 health sciences; 03 medical and health sciences; Chemical Phenomena; Pseudomonas; Benzyl Compounds; Water; Benzyl Alcohols; Mixed Function Oxygenases; 3. Good health

In the hydroxylation of the methyl group of p-cresol by an enzyme from Pseudomonas putida the oxygen atom is derived from water. Although a second reaction by the same enzyme converts the product, p-hydroxybenzyl alcohol, into the aldehyde, the alcohol is an enzyme-free intermediate.