BIPHENYL CHLOROBIPHENYLS CATABOLIC PATHWAY OF COMAMONAS-TESTOSTERONI B-356 - PROSPECT FOR USE IN BIOREMEDIATION

This review summarizes our present knowledge concerning bacterial PCB oxidative catabolic pathways. Using, as an example, some of the result s that were obtained mainly with Comamonas testosteroni B-356, some of the major features of PCB catabolic pathways will be depicted. Based on our present knowledge, some of the factors that should be considere d in priority when looking for strategies to obtain new strains with e nhanced capabilities to degrade those persistent pollutants will be di scussed. The major features that will be discussed include the bioavai lability of PCB as substrate, the use of co-substrate, the significanc e of the substrate reactivity pattern of the biphenyl oxygenase (the f irst enzyme of the pathway) and the importance of the stringent contro l of metabolite production.