Related Experiment Videos
Trichloroethylene metabolism by microorganisms that degrade aromatic compounds
M J Nelson1, S O Montgomery, P H Pritchard
1Technology Applications, Inc., Sabine Island, Gulf Breeze, Florida.
Applied and Environmental Microbiology
|February 1, 1988
Summary
Natural microbes can break down Trichloroethylene (TCE) when given toluene or phenol. The enzyme toluene dioxygenase is key for this Trichloroethylene (TCE) metabolism in Pseudomonas bacteria.
Area of Science:
- Environmental microbiology
- Bioremediation
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Trichloroethylene (TCE) is a common environmental pollutant.
- Microbial degradation is a potential remediation strategy for TCE.
- The specific microbial pathways for TCE metabolism are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the microbial metabolism of Trichloroethylene (TCE).
- To identify the enzymes involved in TCE degradation.
- To explore the role of toluene and phenol in stimulating TCE metabolism.
Main Methods:
- Incubation of environmental water samples with TCE, toluene, or phenol.
- Isolation and characterization of Pseudomonas putida strains.
- Enzymatic assays and genetic analysis of toluene dioxygenase activity.
Main Results:
- Natural microflora metabolized TCE when stimulated by toluene or phenol.
- Pseudomonas putida strains possessing toluene dioxygenase degraded TCE.
- A mutant lacking toluene dioxygenase lost TCE-degradative ability, which was regained upon reversion.
Conclusions:
- Toluene dioxygenase plays a critical role in the microbial metabolism of Trichloroethylene (TCE).
- This finding has implications for bioremediation strategies targeting TCE contamination.