This family consists of several bacterial phenol hydroxylase subunit proteins which are part of a multicomponent phenol hydroxylase. Some bacteria can utilise phenol or some of its methylated derivatives as their sole source of carbon and energy. The first step in this process is the conversion of phenol into catechol. Catechol is then further metabolised via the meta-cleavage pathway into TCA cycle intermediates [1].

1: Localization and organization of phenol degradation genes of Pseudomonas putida strain H. Herrmann H, Muller C, Schmidt I, Mahnke J, Petruschka L, Hahnke K; Mol Gen Genet 1995;247:240-246. PMID:7753034