Comparison of Natural and Engineered Chlorophenol Bioremediation Enzymes
Abstract
Chlorinated phenols are persistent chemical pollutants whose exposure has been shown to give rise to both acute and long-term health risks. Many chlorinated phenols reside in soils following treatment with pesticides or defoliants, or are produced as byproducts of paper production or incineration, where they present a danger if they enter the food supply even at the parts per trillion level. The proposed research herein addresses the urgent need to incorporate biological strategies into environmental restoration efforts (bioremediation) that focus on the catalytic degradation of chlorinated phenols such as 2,4-dichlorophenol and 2,4,5-trichlorophenol (which are degradation products of Agent Orange). By focusing on enzymes as bioremediation catalysts, the proposed effort may lead to the development of novel proteins capable of the catalytic degradation of many chlorinated phenols, thereby minimizing their deleterious effects on the environment. Herein, the kinetics, spectroscopy, structure, and engineering of dehaloperoxidase (DHP) from the marine annelid Amphitrite ornata have been investigated as the focal point of such a strategy. Employing natural enzymes, or systems derived therefrom, to degrade these chlorinated or halogenated waste materials has an enormous potential to positively impact the environment and human health, and will contribute to the development of a new bioremediation industry.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 26, 2015
- Accession Number
- ADA623027
Entities
People
- Reza A. Ghiladi
- Stefan Franzen
Organizations
- North Carolina State University