Biochemistry, genetics and physiology of microbial styrene degradation

The last few decades have seen a steady increase in the global production and utilisation of the alkenylbenzene, styrene. The compound is of major importance in the petrochemical and polymer-processing industries, which can contribute to the pollution of natural resources via the release of styrene-...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:FEMS microbiology reviews 2002-11, Vol.26 (4), p.403-417, Article 403
Main Authors: O’Leary, Niall D., O’Connor, Kevin E., Dobson, Alan D.W.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aerobiosis - physiology
Anaerobiosis - physiology
Bacteria - classification
Bacteria - metabolism
Biodegradation
Biodegradation of pollutants
Biodegradation, Environmental
Biological and medical sciences
Biological Transport - physiology
Biotechnology
Biotransformation
Environment and pollution
Enzymes - metabolism
Filtration - instrumentation
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Fungi - classification
Fungi - metabolism
Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects
Industrial Waste - prevention & control
Models, Molecular
Operon - physiology
Phenylacetic acid
Pseudomonas - genetics
Pseudomonas - metabolism
Pseudomonas - physiology
Regulation
Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
Styrene - chemistry
Styrene - metabolism
Two-component
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Summary:The last few decades have seen a steady increase in the global production and utilisation of the alkenylbenzene, styrene. The compound is of major importance in the petrochemical and polymer-processing industries, which can contribute to the pollution of natural resources via the release of styrene-contaminated effluents and off-gases. This is a cause for some concern as human over-exposure to styrene, and/or its early catabolic intermediates, can have a range of destructive health effects. These features have prompted researchers to investigate routes of styrene degradation in microorganisms, given the potential application of these organisms in bioremediation/biodegradation strategies. This review aims to examine the recent advances which have been made in elucidating the underlying biochemistry, genetics and physiology of microbial styrene catabolism, identifying areas of interest for the future and highlighting the potential industrial importance of individual catabolic pathway enzymes.
ISSN:0168-6445
1574-6976
DOI:10.1016/S0168-6445(02)00126-2