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Team:Evry/Project/Compounds/Sensing
From 2014.igem.org
Sensing
For PCBs, two distinct classes of bacteria have now been identified as being able to degrade PCBs.
Aerobic bacteria which live in oxygenated environments and anaerobic bacteria which live in oxygen free environments such as aquatic sediments. They use different mechanisms, aerobes attack PCBs oxidatively, breaking open the carbon ring and destroying the compounds. Anaerobes, on the other hand, leave the biphenyl rings intact while removing the chlorines.
The evidence in the literature suggests that PCDD/F compounds are subject to biodegradation in the environment as part of the natural chlorine cycle.
Figure5: The catabolic pathway for degradation of biphenyl by aerobic bacteria and the organization of bph gene cluster.
