Degradation of halogenated aliphatic compounds by Xanthobacter autotrophicus GJ10

Journal Article · Fri Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1985 · Appl. Environ. Microbiol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5833189

Janssen, D B; Scheper, A; Dijkhuizen, L; Witholt, B

A bacterium that is able to utilize a number of halogenated short-chain hydrocarbons and halogenated carboxylic acids as sole carbon source for growth was identified as a strain of Xanthobacter autotrophicus. The organism constitutively produces two different dehalogenases. One enzyme is specific for halogenated alkanes, whereas the other, which is more heat stable and has a higher pH optimum, is specific for halogenated carboxylic acids. Haloalkanes were hydrolyzed in cell extracts to produce alcohols and halide ions, and a route for the metabolism of 1,2-dichloroethane is proposed. Both dehalogenases show a broad substrate specificity, allowing the degradation of bromine- and chlorine-substituted organic compounds. The results show that X. autotrophicus may play a role in the degradation of organochlorine compounds and that hydrolytic dehalogenases may be involved in the microbial metabolism of short-chain halogenated hydrocarbons in microorganisms.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Groningen, Netherlands
• OSTI ID: 5833189
• Journal Information: Appl. Environ. Microbiol.; (United States), Journal Name: Appl. Environ. Microbiol.; (United States) Vol. 49:2; ISSN AEMID
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550700* -- Microbiology
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ALCOHOLS
ALKANES
BACTERIA
BIODEGRADATION
BIOSYNTHESIS
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
ENZYMATIC HYDROLYSIS
ENZYMES
ETHANE
GROWTH
HALOGENATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROLASES
HYDROLYSIS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
LYSIS
METABOLISM
MICROORGANISMS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
SOLVOLYSIS
SUBSTRATES
SYNTHESIS