Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 15, 2026

Isolation and Screening from Soil Biodiversity for Fungi Involved in the Degradation of Recalcitrant Materials
Published on: May 16, 2022
Biodegradation of Benzene-Dicarboxylic Acid Ester Isomers by a Thermally Activated Esterase from Desulfurellaceae
Liu Yang1, Yiling Tang1, Yebao Chen2
1School of Food Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, China.
Abstract:
Esterases play a crucial role in the degradation of phthalic acid esters (PAEs), the common persistent organic pollutants and endocrine disrupting chemicals. However, only a few esterases for PAEs degradation have been characterized. In this study, a novel esterase from Desulfurellaceae bacterium (DeEst) has been identified. We found its hydrolytic activity toward three regioisomers of benzene-dicarboxylic acid esters (i.e., diethyl phthalate, diethyl isophthalate, and diethyl terephthalate). Notably, DeEst is capable of hydrolyzing diethyl phthalate and other PAEs to phthalic acid (PA). The biochemical characterization of DeEst was also investigated. DeEst exhibited strong thermal stability and demonstrated an uncommon thermal activation effect, highlighting its considerable potential for practical applications.
More Related Videos
15:19Development of Sulfidogenic Sludge from Marine Sediments and Trichloroethylene Reduction in an Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Reactor
Published on: October 15, 2015
10:03Isolation, Propagation, and Identification of Bacterial Species with Hydrocarbon Metabolizing Properties from Aquatic Habitats
Published on: December 7, 2021
Related Concept Videos
Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution: Sulfonation of Benzene
Reduction of Benzene to Cyclohexane: Catalytic Hydrogenation
Bioremediation
Benzene to 1,4-Cyclohexadiene: Birch Reduction Mechanism
Nucleophilic Aromatic Substitution: Elimination–Addition
Esters to Carboxylic Acids: Saponification
The reaction requires a base in stoichiometric amounts, which participates in the reaction and is not regenerated later. So, the base acts as a...