Biodegradation of Nitroaromatic Compounds.
Abstract
Funded studies focused on the biodegradation of three nitroaromatic compounds, nitrobenzene, 2-nitrotoluene, and 2,4-dinitrotoluene, by bacterial strains isolated in Dr. Jim C. Spain's laboratory, Tyndall AFB. Genes and enzymes required for the degradation of these compounds were characterized. Several genes involved in the degradation of nitrobenzene and phenol from Comamonas sp. strain JS765 were cloned and sequenced. A gene cluster from Pseudomonas sp. strain JS42 encoding 2-nitrotoluene dioxygenase was cloned and sequenced and was found to be related to gene clusters from Burkholderia sp. strain DNT and Pseudomonas sp. strain NOIB 9816-4 which encode 2,4-dinitrotoluene and naphthalene dioxygenases, respectively. The ntd gene cluster cloned in E. coil proved useful in studies that demonstrated that the C-terminal half of the alpha subunit of the oxygenase component of 2-nitrotoluene dioxygenase is responsible for determining the substrate specificity of the enzyme. Construction and analysis of hybrid dioxygenases demonstrated that the oxygenase beta subunits of naphthalene, 2-nitrotoluene and 2,4-dinitrotoluene dioxygenases do not play a role in determining substrate specificity.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 31, 1999
- Accession Number
- ADA363438
Entities
People
- David T. Gibson
- Rebecca E. Parales
Organizations
- University of Iowa