Analysis of cumene (isopropylbenzene) degradation genes from Pseudomonas fluorescens IP01

The cumD gene, that encodes 2-hydroxy-6-oxo-7-methylocta-2,4-dienoic acid hydrolase, is responsible for the cumene degrading activity of Pseudomonas fluorescens IP01. Three open reading frames, ORF11, ORF12, and ORF13, have been identified in cumD, using polymerase chain reaction technique. The gene organization, size, and homology of corresponding enzymes of the cumD gene cluster are similar to those of the bph gene cluster from Pseudomonas sp. strain LB400 and the tod gene cluster from P. putida F1.