Microbes and microbial enzymes for cyanide degradation.
Cyanide is an important industrial chemical produced on a grand scale each year. Although extremely toxic to mammalian life, cyanide is a natural product generated by fungi and bacteria, and as a result microbial systems have evolved for the degradation of cyanide to less toxic compounds. The enzymes which utilize cyanide as a substrate can be categorized into the following reaction types: substitution/addition, hydrolysis, oxidation, and reduction. Each of these categories is reviewed with respect to the known biochemistry and feasibility for use in treatment of cyanide containing wastes.
Clayton Foundation Biochemical Institute, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Texas, Austin 78712.
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Raybuck
D001419:Bacteria / Q000201:enzymology*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D003486:Cyanides / Q000378:metabolism*; D005658:Fungi / Q000201:enzymology*
D003486:Cyanides