Pseudomonas
sp. strain 054 isolated from polluted soil utilizes dimethylterephthalate (DMT) as a sole carbon and energy source. The degradation of this compound starts with a two-stage hydrolysis of the ester bonds to monomethylterephthalate and terephthalic acid. In the meta-pathway for cleavage of the aromatic ring the latter is metabolized to protocatechuate. The induction of the ester hydrolysis is slightly specific, while the oxygenase mechanism is induced by substrates with aromatic structure.
