Catabolic Plasmids and Mobile Genetic Elements Involved in The Degradation of Non-Metal Xenobiotic Compounds
Amalia S. Afendra, Maria Parapouli and Constantin Drainas
from: Microbial Bioremediation of Non-metals: Current Research (Edited by: Anna-Irini Koukkou). Caister Academic Press, U.K. (2011)
Abstract
During the last century, xenobiotic pollutants harmful to environment and health were dramatically increased as a consequence of human activities, such as petroleum industries, agro-industries, household or commercial use. In the polluted areas a large diversity of bacteria with the ability to use these compounds as carbon and/or nitrogen source were developed and proved to be useful for bioremediation applications. Their biodegradation properties are due to genes, which were modified, recombined and improved accordingly over the years helping bacteria to adapt in the new harsh xenobiotic environment. Over time, catabolic genes were evolutionary grouped in clusters, established through genetic rearrangements in transmissible regions of mobile genetic elements, and spread by horizontal gene transfer among bacteria of different genera or taxa coexisting in polluted areas. This chapter focuses on plasmids and other mobile genetic elements which carry genes or gene clusters coding for catabolic enzymes involved in the degradation of a number of industrially important xenobiotic pollutants. These include chlorinated and polychlorinated compounds, phthalates, sulfur compounds and some major groups of pesticides. The origin and evolution of these catabolic pathways to different genera is also reviewed read more ...
