Microbial dehalogenases: enzymes recruited to convert xenobiotic substrates

Microbial dehalogenases are involved in the biodegradation of many important chlorinated pollutants. Some recent studies of haloalkane dehalogenase, dichloromethane dehalogenase, tetrachlorohydroquinone dehalogenase and perchloroethylene and trichloroethylene reductive dehalogenases have addressed the issue of recruitment and adaptation of proteins to dehalogenate novel substrates.