Dehalogenation by Mycobacterium vaccae JOB-5: role of the propane monooxygenase

Mycobacterium vaccae JOB-5 has an inducible propane monooxygenase that has been implicated in the catabolism of most major groundwater pollutants including trichloroethylene. Propane-grown cells are also induced for the dehalogenation of 1-chlorobutane and other chloroalkanes. 1-Chlorobutane is oxidized to 2-butanol, indicating that subterminal oxidation of 1-chlorobutane resulted in a concomitant release of the chloride. Nonproliferating suspensions of M. vaccae induced for the propane monooxygenase can dehalogenate a variety of chlorinated hydrocarbons including monochlorinated alcohols, dichlorinated short chain alkanes, and several multiple-substituted compounds including trichloroethylene. The results indicate that M. vaccae JOB-5 has a monooxygenase of broad specificity that can dehalogenate an array of halogenated hydrocarbons.