Modified naphthalene dioxygenases and methods of use

The invention provides an NDO or NDO related complex comprising at least one alpha-subunit polypeptide that comprises: 1) a substituted amino acid at the position corresponding to position 352 in NDO, 2) a substituted amino acid at the position corresponding to position 201, 202, 260, 316, 351, 358, 362, or 366 in NDO, or 3) a substituted amino acid at the position corresponding to position 352 in NDO, and a substituted amino acid at the position corresponding to position 201, 202, 260, 316, 351, 358, 362, or 366 in NDO; or a catalytically active fragment thereof. The invention also provides DNA encoding such polypeptides, host cells augmented by such DNA, and methods for using the enzymes or host cells to provide useful and novel synthons. The invention also provides novel compounds prepared with the complexes or methods of the invention.