DEGRADATION OF HALOGENATED ALIPHATIC-COMPOUNDS - THE ROLE OF ADAPTATION

A limited number of halogenated aliphatic compounds can serve as a gro wth substrate for aerobic microorganisms. Such cultures have (specific ally) developed a variety of enzyme systems to degrade these compounds . Dehalogenations are of critical importance. Various heavily chlorina ted compounds are not easily biodegraded, although there are no obviou s biochemical or thermodynamic reasons why microorganisms should not b e able to grow with any halogenated compound. The very diversity of ca tabolic enzymes present in cultures that degrade halogenated aliphatic s and the occurrence of molecular mechanisms for genetic adaptation se rve as good starting points for the evolution of catabolic pathways fo r compounds that are currently still resistant to biodegradation.