Regulated toluene cis-glycol production by recombinant Escherichia coli strains constructed by PCR amplification of the toluene dioxygenase genes from Pseudomonas putida

The toluene dioxygenase genes from Pseudomonas putida NCIMB 11767 were isolated by PCR amplification from recombinant plasmid, p1/1. The genes were subcloned into pUC18 and pKK223-3 and expressed under the lac and tac promoters, respectively. In both cases, toluene cis-glycol was produced, with higher levels of product formation when the genes were expressed from the tac promoter.