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. 1989 Dec;55(12):3155–3161. doi: 10.1128/aem.55.12.3155-3161.1989

Biodegradation of trichloroethylene by Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b.

H C Tsien 1, G A Brusseau 1, R S Hanson 1, L P Waclett 1
PMCID: PMC203239  PMID: 2515801

Abstract

The methanotroph Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b, a type II methanotroph, degraded trichloroethylene at rates exceeding 1.2 mmol/h per g (dry weight) following the appearance of soluble methane monooxygenase in continuous and batch cultures. Cells capable oxidizing trichloroethylene contained components of soluble methane monooxygenase as demonstrated by Western blot (immunoblot) analysis with antibodies prepared against the purified enzyme. Growth of cultures in a medium containing 0.25 microM or less copper sulfate caused derepression of the synthesis of soluble methane monooxygenase. In these cultures, the specific rates of methane and methanol oxidation did not change during growth, while trichloroethylene oxidation increased with the appearance of soluble methane monooxygenase. M. trichosporium OB3b cells that contained soluble methane monooxygenase also degraded vinyl chloride, 1,1-dichloroethylene, cis-1,2-dichloroethylene, and trans-1,2-dichloroethylene.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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