Novel degradation pathway of 2-chloro-4-aminophenol in Arthrobacter sp. SPG

A novel degradation pathway of 2-chloro-4-aminophenol (2C4AP) was studied in an Arthrobacter sp. SPG that utilized 2C4AP as a sole carbon and energy source. The 2C4AP degradation was initiated by a 2C4AP-deaminase that catalyzed the conversion of 2C4AP into chlorohydroquinone (CHQ) with removal of ammonium ion. In the next step, a CHQ-dehalogenase catalyzed the dehalogenation of CHQ to hydroquinone (HQ). The further degradation of HQ was proceeded with ring cleavage and the formation of γ-hydroxymuconic semialdehyde. This is the first report of degradation of 2C4AP by any bacteria.