Microbial Degradation of Synthetic Chlorinated Compounds: Evolutionary Implications (Chapter 8)

摘要

Environmental release of synthetic chlorinated compounds in the form of herbicides/pesticides, solvents, refrigerants, etc., has created major concerns with regard to their effects on human health because of the persistence of many such compounds. The persistence of these compounds is a result of the inability of natural microorganisms to utilize them as a sole source of carbon and energy. Many microorganisms can utilize simple chlorinated compounds such as 3-chlorobenzoate (3Cba) or 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetate (2,4-D) as their sole carbon source but cannot utilize higher chlorinated forms such as 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4,5-T) and others. Under strong selection in a chemostat with 2,4,5-T as the only major source of carbon (directed evolution), it has been possible to isolate a strain of Pseudomonas cepacia AC1100 that can utilize 2,4,5-T as its sole source of carbon and energy.