DEVELOPMENT OF GENETICALLY-ENGINEERED BACTERIA FOR TRICHLOROETHYLENE DEGRADATION

The genes coding for toluene monooxygenase (TMO), an enzyme also capab le of degrading trichloroethylene (TCE), from Pseudomonas mendocina KR 1 were cloned into both narrow-and broad-host-range vectors and introd uced into Escherichia coli and P. putida. TMO activity expressed by a number of strain/plasmid combinations was assayed by determining decre ases in the fluorescence of indole. Degradation of TCE was investigate d in sealed serum vials for a number of these combinations. Finally a kinetic experiment, involving determination of the rate of TCE degrada tion at various TCE concentrations, was performed, and approximate kin etic constants for TCE degradation by these two species were determine d.