Mutants of Pseudomonas fluorescens NCIMB 11671 defective in the catabolism of α-pinene

Pseudomonas fluorescens NCIMB 11671 metabolises α-pinene via α-pinene oxide and 2-methyl-5-isopropylhexa-2,5-dienal. Mutants unable to grow on α- pinene and/or α-pinene oxide have been isolated by N-methyl-N'-nitro-N- nitrosoguanidine mutagenesis, including an unexpected phenotype able to grow on α-pinene but not on α-pinene oxide. The mutants have been classified on the basis of their α-pinene monooxygenase, α-pinene oxide lyase and aldehyde dehydrogenase activities. Biotransformation of α-pinene by the wild-type and mutant strains has revealed evidence for alternative routes for pinene metabolism to that already proposed.