Abstract: p-Toluic acid was used as a sole source of carbon and energy to screen for a bacterium to produce terephthalic acid. Comamonas testosterone strain DSM6577 can oxidize p-toluic acid to terephthalic acid through sequential reactions catalyzed by a series of enzymes. The growth of the strain, degradation of p-toluic acid, and production of terephthalic acid were studied. p-Toluic acid can be completely transformed within 8 h, but the formation of terephthalic acid takes place during 14 to 31 h, and a maximal yield of 34 mg/L is obtained at 21 h.

Key words: Comamonas testosterone, biocatalysis, p-toluic acid, terephthalic acid