Primers: Functional Genes for Aerobic Chlorinated Hydrocarbon-Degrading Microbes

Bioremediation offers a solution to the problem of chlorinated hydrocarbon pollution. Small chlorinated compounds can be mineralised by aerobic bacteria, acting as carbon and energy sources, and the genes that encode these processes can be detected and monitored by PCR. This provides a rapid, specific, culture-independent, and potentially quantitative tool of enormous utility to bioremediation practitioners. This chapter summarises and evaluates available PCR primers for genes encoding metabolism of organochlorines, especially chlorinated alkanes, alkenes, and alkanoic acids. The enzyme families involved include hydrolytic dehalogenases, dehydrochlorinases, monooxygenases, glutathione-S-transferases, and corrinoid-dependent enzymes. Although aromatic dioxygenases are important enzymes for degradation of chlorinated aromatic hydrocarbons, this enzyme family is not discussed here. This chapter assumes a basic knowledge of PCR and primer design. The focus will be on the design and use of degenerate primers and on the relationships between genes, bacteria, and chlorinated substrates.

Source: Springer protocols feed by Microbiology - October 12, 2016 Category: Microbiology Source Type: news