A strain of Pseudomonas putida grew rapidly on cyclohexanecarboxylic acid as a sole source of carbon. A CoA-mediated beta-oxidation pathway was induced for the metabolism of the compound. The organism could not utilize 3-cyclohexenecarboxylic acid as a sole source of carbon for growth, but cells grown on gluconate in the presence of 3-cyclohexenecarboxylic acid were induced to metabolize cyclohexanecarboxylic acid, benzoic acid, and catechol. Evidence is presented that 3-cyclohexenecarboxylic acid was slowly metabolized by a beta-oxidation pathway and by a pathway involving benzoic acid as an intermediate. For this strain of Pseudomonas putida, 3-cyclohexenecarboxylic acid acts as an oxidizable, nongrowth substrate and induces the metabolism of cyclohexanecarboxylic acid and benzoic acid.