biodegradation
Biodegradation | SpotlightMicrobial Degradation of Pyridine: a Complete Pathway in Arthrobacter sp. Strain 68b DecipheredThe biodegradation pathway of pyridine, a notorious toxicant, is relatively unexplored, as no genetic data related to this process have ever been presented. In this paper, we describe the plasmid-borne pyr gene cluster, which includes the complete set of genes responsible for the degradation of pyridine. A key enzyme, the monooxygenase PyrA, which is responsible for the first step of the catabolic pathway, performs an oxidative...
Biodegradation | SpotlightAn Aerobic Hybrid Phthalate Degradation Pathway via Phthaloyl-Coenzyme A in Denitrifying BacteriaPhthalic acid esters (PAEs) are industrially produced on a million-ton scale per year and are predominantly used as plasticizers. They are classified as environmentally relevant xenobiotics with a number of adverse health effects, including endocrine-disrupting activity. Biodegradation by microorganisms is considered the most effective process to eliminate PAEs from the environment. It is usually initiated by the hydrolysis of PAEs to...
Enzymology and Protein EngineeringAn α/β-Hydrolase Fold Subfamily Comprising Pseudomonas Quinolone Signal-Cleaving DioxygenasesFunctional annotation of protein sequences is a major requirement for the investigation of metabolic pathways and the identification of sought-after biocatalysts. To identify heterocyclic ring-cleaving dioxygenases within the huge superfamily of α/β-hydrolase fold proteins, we defined search and validation criteria for the primarily motif-based identification of 3-hydroxy-4(1H)-quinolone 2,4-dioxygenases (HQD). HQDs are key...
BiodegradationAnaerobic Degradation of Syringic Acid by an Adapted Strain of Rhodopseudomonas palustrisLignin is the most abundant aromatic polymer on Earth and a resource that could eventually substitute for fossil fuels as a source of aromatic compounds for industrial and biotechnological applications. Engineering microorganisms for the production of aromatic-based biochemicals requires detailed knowledge of the metabolic pathways for the degradation of aromatics that are present in lignin. Our isolation and analysis of a...
Biodegradation | SpotlightCyanuric Acid Biodegradation via Biuret: Physiology, Taxonomy, and Geospatial DistributionCyanuric acid is produced naturally as a contaminant in urea fertilizer, and it is used as a chlorine stabilizer in swimming pools. Cyanuric acid-degrading bacteria are used commercially in removing cyanuric acid from pool water when it exceeds desired levels. The total volume of cyanuric acid produced annually exceeds 200 million kilograms, most of which enters the natural environment. In this context, it is important to have a global...
BiodegradationMethanogenic Degradation of Long n-Alkanes Requires Fumarate-Dependent ActivationMethanogenic hydrocarbon degradation is the major process for oil degradation in subsurface oil reservoirs and is blamed for the formation of heavy oil and oil sands. Addition of n-alkanes to fumarate yielding alkyl-substituted succinates is a well-characterized anaerobic activation mechanism for hydrocarbons and is the most common activation mechanism in the anaerobic biodegradation of n-alkanes with chain lengths...
BiodegradationHydrocarbon-Degrading Microbial Communities Are Site Specific, and Their Activity Is Limited by Synergies in Temperature and Nutrient Availability in Surface Ocean WatersThe risk of an oil spill accident in pristine regions of the world’s oceans is increasing due to the development and transport of crude oil resources, especially in the Arctic region, as a result of the opening of ice-free transportation routes, and there is currently no consensus regarding the complex interplay among the environmental controls of petroleum hydrocarbon biodegradation for predictive modeling. We examined the hydrocarbon...
Environmental MicrobiologyMolecular Mechanism of N,N-Dimethylformamide Degradation in Methylobacterium sp. Strain DM1DMF is a hazardous pollutant that has been used in the chemical industry, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and agriculture. Biodegradation as a method for removing DMF has received increasing attention. Here, we identified an efficient DMF degrader, Methylobacterium sp. strain DM1, and characterized the complete DMF mineralization pathway and enzymatic properties of DMFase in this strain. This study provides insights into the...
BiodegradationMetabolites Involved in Aerobic Degradation of the A and B Rings of EstrogenEstrogens, often detected in surface waters worldwide, have been classified as endocrine disrupting chemicals and carcinogens. Bacterial degradation is crucial for removing natural estrogens from natural and engineered ecosystems; however, current knowledge regarding the biochemical mechanisms and catabolic enzymes involved in estrogen biodegradation is very limited. Our estrogen metabolite profile and genomic analyses on estrone-...
- BiodegradationA Novel Degradation Mechanism for Pyridine Derivatives in Alcaligenes faecalis JQ135
Unlike the benzene ring, the uneven distribution of the electron density of the pyridine ring influences the positional reactivity and interaction with enzymes; e.g., the ortho and para oxidations are more difficult than the meta oxidations. Hydroxylation is an important oxidation process for the pyridine derivative metabolism. In previous reports, the ortho hydroxylations of pyridine derivatives were...