Development of a Real-Time PCR Technique to Enumerate Aerobic, VC-Degrading Bacteria in Environmental Samples(Abstract)

摘要

Vinyl chloride (VC) is a chlorinated compound often generated by incomplete reduc- tive dechlorination of higher chlorinated ethenes (e.g. trichloroethene). Because VC is a known human carcinogen, the generation of a mobile VC plume is a threat to human health if it migrates into drinking water zones. In some cases, ethene generated during reductive dechlorination could comigrate along with the VC. Recent research indicates that indigenous, aerobic, ethene-degrading microbes can cometabolize VC. There are also reports that ethene-degrading microbes adapt to VC as a growth substrate in the labora- tory. Previous studies indicate that aerobic VC- and ethene-degrading bacteria use alkene monooxygenase (AkMO) to attack both VC and ethene, transforming them into the epox- ides chlorooxirane and epoxyethane, respectively. These epoxides are assimilated into central metabolism by epoxyalkane:coenzyme M transferase (EaCoMT).