[Aromatic hydrocarbons as enzyme inducers of cleavage of the aromatic ring in Candida guilliermondii].

Monocyclic and dicyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, toluene and 2-methylnaphthalene, can induce pyrocatechate-1,2-oxygenase in Candida guilliermondii BKM Y-916 cells. The enzyme is active at pH 7.0. The culture oxidizes toluene via benzoic acid by ortho-cleavage. The results indicate that Candida as an ecologo-trophic group of microorganisms can be involved, along with bacteria, in biodegradation of various aromatic hydrocarbons.