benzoate degradation via hydroxylation KEGG:map00627 KEGG:map01120 GO:0043640 pathway KEGG:map01100 UPa:UPA00156 KEGG:map00362 Degradation of benzoic acid via hydroxylation pathway. This aerobic pathway includes hydroxylation of the aromatic ring by monooxygenases or dioxygenases, whereby catechol (1,2-dihydroxybenzene) or protocatechuate (3,4-dihydroxybenzoate) is produced. These central aromatic intermediates are the substrates for ring-cleaving dioxygenases. aromatic compound metabolism