Patent ID: 6461840
Filing Date: 2002-10-08
Classification: C12P

Abstract:
A pure isolate of a terephthalic acid producing Proteobacteria, which comprises the genes encoding all the enzymes of the terephthalic acid biosynthetic pathway, isolated by the process comprising:(i) culturing a sample suspected of containing a terephthalic acid producing Proteobacteria in a suitable growth medium containing at least one aromatic organic substrate selected from the group consisting of p-xylene, p-toluic acid, and terephthalic acid; (ii) isolating those Proteobacteria which use every substrate selected individually from the group consisting of p-xylene, p-toluic acid, and terephthalic acid as a sole carbon source; (iii) contacting the Proteobacteria isolated in step (ii) with p-xylene to form a reaction medium; (iv) monitoring the reaction medium over time for the production of terephthalic acid, whereby the production of terephthalic acid indicates the presence of a terephthalic acid producing Proteobacteria; and (v) recovering the terephthalic acid producing Proteobacteria of step (iv).