[Study of the initial reaction of enzymatic oxidation of 1,8-dimethylnaphthalene].

Crude enzymatic preparation has been obtained from Pseudomonas bacteria which oxidises 1,8-DMN during 10-hour incubation with the following formation of the same products which are formed when this compound is oxidized by the intact cells. The first product of the oxidation is 1-methyl-8-oxymethylnaphtalene (compound I), obtained as a result of hydroxylation of one methyl group. Probably hydroxylase of 1,8-DMN may be referred to the class of oxigenases of the basis of the absence of 18O incorporation from H218O to compound I, and also resulting from the data on absorption of molecular oxygen during the reaction. The enzyme is completely inhibited by chelating agents of Fe2+ NAD(P)H and Fe2+ stimulates the reaction of 1.8 DMN oxidation.