Cresols (Hydroxytoluene) 
Pseudomonas N.C.I.B. 8893 initiated degradation of p-cresol by 
oxidizing the methyl group to carboxyl. Pseudomonas (U) left the 
methyl group intact and initially hydroxylated the benzene nucleus to 
give a catechol. Although specificity was exhibited in hydroxylation 
of cresols, the ring cleavage of the catechols appeared to be catalyzed 
by the same enzyme, catechol 2,3-oxygenase. Meta cresol and p-cresol 
were oxidized by Pseudomonas (U) to 3-methyl- and 4-methyl-catechol, 
respectively. Ring fission of 3-methylcatechol gave rise to 4-methyl- 
2-oxobutyrolactone, 4-hydroxy-2-oxovalerate, acetaldehyde, pyruvate, 
and acetate. Ring fission of 4-methylcatechol produced 4-ethyl-2- 
oxobutyrolactone, 4-hydroxy~2-oxohexanoate, propionaldehyde, pyruvate, 
and formate. Proposed metabolic pathways for cresols are shown (95, 329, 
1607). 
‘Cycloheximide (Actidione) [{3-(2-(3,5-dimethy1-2-oxocyclohexy1)-2- 
hydroxyethyl) glutarimide] 
Bean plants were quite sensitive to cycloheximide and inactivation 
occurred rapidly, paralleling phytotoxicity symptoms. In cherry foliage, 
cycloheximide was apparently bound within the tissue (1348). When 
applied to tomato plants as the acetate, the free cycloheximide was 
formed and accumulated in the leaves (863). 
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