Catabolism of homophthalic acid by a soil bacterium.

A microorganism capable of degrading homophthalic acid as a sole source of carbon was isolated from soil. The strain was tentatively identified as Pseudomonas sp. Oxygen uptake studies were carried out with possible intermediates. Assays for several different enzymes were performed. Homophthalic acid may be metabolized by this bacterium via p-hydroxyphenyl acetic acid and homogentisic acid intermediates.