Biotransformations of 2-Methylisoborneol by Camphor-Degrading Bacteria

Many camphor-degrading bacteria that are able to transform 2-methylisoborneol (2-MIB) have been identified. Three of these strains have been examined in detail. Rhodococcus ruber T1 metabolizes camphor through 6-hydroxycamphor but converts 2-MIB to 3-hydroxy-2-MIB. Pseudomonas putida G1, which metabolizes camphor through 5-hydroxycamphor, converts MIB primarily to 6-hydroxy-2-MIB. Rhodococcus wratislaviensis DLC-cam converts 2-MIB through 5-hydroxy-2-MIB to 5-keto-2-MIB. Together, these three strains produce metabolites resulting from hydroxylation at all of the three available secondary carbons on the six-member ring of 2-MIB.