Degradation of benzoate to 2-hydro-1,2-dihydroxybenzoate (DHB). The beta subunit may be responsible for the substrate specificity of the enzyme. benzoate + H(+) + NADH + O2 = (1R,6S)-1,6-dihydroxycyclohexa-2,4-diene-1-carboxylate + NAD(+) Aromatic compound metabolism; benzoate degradation via hydroxylation; catechol from benzoate: step 1/2. This dioxygenase system consists of three proteins: the two subunits of the hydroxylase (BenA and BenB), and an electron transfer component (BenC). Belongs to the bacterial ring-hydroxylating dioxygenase beta subunit family.