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Efficient Degradation of Trichloroethylene by a Recombinant Escherichia Coli

Bio/Technology volume 7, pages 282–285 (1989)Cite this article

Abstract

We have identified a strain of Pseudomonas mendocina that oxidizes trichloroethylene (TCE) after growth in the presence of toluene. A DNA fragment from this organism, when introduced into the appropriate expression vector system, conferred upon Escherichia coli the ability to oxidize both toluene and TCE. The recombinant E. coli rapidly degrades TCE to carbon dioxide, chloride ion and simple water soluble metabolites and reduces the concentration of TCE in water as much as 1000–fold. The extensive degradation of TCE by the recombinant E. coli is due to genetic manipulations that uncouple the regulation of TCE degrading enzymes from growth and co metabolism of toluene.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Amgen, 1900 Oak Terrace Lane, Thousand Oaks, CA, 91320

    Robert B. Winter, Kwang-Mu Yen & Burt D. Ensley

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  1. Robert B. Winter
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  2. Kwang-Mu Yen
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Winter, R., Yen, KM. & Ensley, B. Efficient Degradation of Trichloroethylene by a Recombinant Escherichia Coli. Nat Biotechnol 7, 282–285 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt0389-282

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