BIOTRANSFORMATIONS CATALYZED BY THE GENUS RHODOCOCCUS

Rhodococci display a diverse range of metabolic capabilities and they are a ubiquitous feature of many environments. They are able to degrad e short-chain, long-chain, and halogenated hydrocarbons, and numerous aromatic compounds, including halogenated and other substituted aromat ics, heteroaromatics, hydroaromatics, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocar bons. They possess a wide variety of pathways for degrading and modify ing aromatic compounds, including dioxygenase and monooxygenase ring a ttack, and cleavage of catechol by both ortho- and meta- routes, and s ome strains possess a modified 3-oxoadipate pathway. Biotransformation s catalyzed by rhodococci include steroid modification, enantioselecti ve synthesis, and the transformation of nitriles to amides and acids. Tolerance of rhodococci to to starvation, their frequent lack of catab olite repression, and their environmental persistence make them excell ent candidates for bioremediation treatments. Some strains can produce poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate)s, others can accumulate cesium, and still ot hers are the source of useful enzymes such as phenylalanine dehydrogen ase and endoglycosidases. Other actual or potential applications of rh odococci include desulfurization of coal, bioleaching, use of their su rfactants in enhancement of oil recovery and as industrial dispersants , and the construction of biosensors.