Gene encoding a putive efflux protein for solvents/antibiotics in Pseudomonas mendocina

A method for the efficient production of p-hydroxybenzoic acid comprising:

• (a) culturing a Pseudomonas strain having a toluene monooxygenase pathway for toluene oxidation and having an efflux gene encoding an efflux protein at increased levels relative to efflux protein levels of the wildtype microorganism, the efflux protein encoded by an isolated nucleic acid molecule from Pseudomonas selected from the group consisting of:
• (i) an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:2;
• (ii) an isolated nucleic acid molecule that hybridizes to the complement of the isolated nucleic acid molecule of (i) under the following hybridization conditions:
• 0.1×SSC, 0.1% SDS at 65° C.;
• and washed with 2×SSC, 0.1% SDS followed by a second wash in 0.2×SSC, 0 1% SDS;
• and
• (iii) an isolated nucleic acid molecule that is complementary to the full length of (i) or (ii),
• in a medium containing an aromatic organic substrate, at least one suitable carbon source, and a nitrogen source, whereby p-hydroxybenzoic acid accumulates;
• and
• (b) recovering p-hydroxybenzoic acid.