Substrate-induction of veratric acid O-demethylase in Nocardia sp.

Nocardia sp. demethylates veratric acid to vanillic and isovanillic acids, and subsequently to protocatechuic acid. The accumulation of specific mRNA observed during incubation of Nocardia sp. cells with substrate, as well as the effect of inhibitors of transcription and translation point to the inducible character of demethylation processes.