Transgenic plants to improve rhizoremediation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).
Recent investigations have shown that the three components of the biphenyl dioxygenase and the 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl dioxygenase can be produced actively in transgenic plants. Both enzymes catalyze critical steps of the bacterial polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) degrading pathway. On the basis of these observations, optimized plant-microbe bioremediation processes in which transgenic plants would initiate PCB metabolism and release the metabolites for further degradation by rhizobacteria has been proposed. Since this is still a relatively new approach for PCB remediation, its successful application will require efforts first, to engineer improved PCB-degrading enzymes; second, to co-ordinately express these enzymes' components in plants; and third, to better understand the mechanisms by which plants and rhizobacteria interact to degrade organic pollutants.
Sylvestre
Michel
M
Institut national de la recherche scientifique, INRS-Institut Armand-Frappier, Laval, Québec, Canada. Michel.Sylvestre@iaf.inrs.ca
Macek
Tomas
T
Mackova
Martina
M
D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism*; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000378:metabolism*
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls