| Popis: |
The first step in the degradation of most aromatic compounds involves oxygenation by enzymes known as oxygenases. Substrates requiring two oxygenations, utilize the enzyme termed as dioxygenase. Structure and mechanisms of action of several such dioxygenases have already been extensively studied. The structure and regulation of genes and operons encoding these dioxygenases from microbes are better understood now and have been subjected to many reviews in literature over the last two decades. The knowledge acquired by these studies combined with an intelligent use of recombinant DNA technology has led to creation and/or modifications in the attributes of these dioxygenases with novel and/or extended catalytic activities and substrate specificities for aromatic compounds. The present article underscores the importance of some of these well-understood dioxygenases, such as toluene and biphenyl dioxygenases in aromatic degradation and discusses the importance of recent vital molecular tools employed to enhance bioremediation potential of the bacteria possessing such dioxygenase, while studying the molecular mechanisms underlying functioning of such bacterial enzymes. |
