Bacterial strain 68b was isolated from contaminated soil. According to 16S rDNA analysis it belongs to genus Arthrobacter. This strain is capable to utilise phthalic acid as a sole carbon source. This ability was proved by physiological and biochemical tests. By using resting cells, it was found out that Arthrobacter sp. 68b cells could use phthalic acid or convert quinolinic acid if they were pre-grown in the presence of phthalic acid. While analysing the results of a partially sequenced genome, the putative phthalate degradation operon (pht) was detected. It consisted of eight genes; seven genes could code the conversion of phthalate to protocatechuate. It was determined that the gene (pehA) of putative phthalate ester hydrolase is located upstream of pht operon. Genes of putative phthalate degradation operon were re-sequenced and their sequences fully corresponded to the de novo sequencing data. The homology search of genes revealed that all gene products are most similar to phthalate degradation proteins from other Arthrobacter spp. strains and confirmed that the strain 68b converts phthalate to protocatechuate by 3,4-dioxygenase pathway.

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