Conversion of Sphingobium chlorophenolicum ATCC 39723 to a hexachlorobenzene degrader by metabolic engineering

The gene cassette (camA(+) camB(+) camC) encoding a cytochrome P-450(cam) variant was integrated into the nonessential gene pcpM of the pentachlorophenol degrader Sphingobium chlorophenolicum ATCC 39723 by homologous recombination. The recombinant strain could degrade hexachlorobenzene at a rate of 0.67 nmol center dot mg (dry weight)(-1) center dot h(-1), and intermediate pentachlorophenol was also identified.