ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF DEHALOGENASES FROM 2,2-DICHLOROPROPIONATE-DEGRADING SOIL BACTERIA

Five bacterial strains were isolated from polluted soils capable of de grading 2,2-dichloropropionate, In crude extracts, dehalogenase activi ty against haloacetates and longer-chained 2-haloalkanoic acids could be detected. Results from activity staining indicated that all bacteri al strains expressed a single dehalogenase. In further biochemical cha racterization, two types of D,L-specific 2-haloalkanoic acid dehalogen ases were described, which are different from each other not only in m olecular weight and electrophoretic mobility, but also in sensitivity towards thiol reagents. Dehalogenases of these strains have been shown to be inducible and are catalyzing halide hydrolysis with inversion o f product configuration.