title: Bacterial strategies for growth on aromatic compounds.
abstract: Although the biodegradation of aromatic compounds has been studied for over 40 years, there is still much to learn about the strategies bacteria employ for growth on novel substrates. Elucidation of these strategies is crucial for predicting the environmental fate of aromatic pollutants and will provide a framework for the development of engineered bacteria and degradation pathways. In this chapter, we provide an overview of studies that have advanced our knowledge of bacterial adaptation to aromatic compounds. We have divided these strategies into three broad categories: (1) recruitment of catabolic genes, (2) expression of "repair" or detoxification proteins, and (3) direct alteration of enzymatic properties. Specific examples from the literature are discussed, with an eye toward the molecular mechanisms that underlie each strategy.
authors: Field of Environmental Toxicology, Cornell University Ithaca, New York, USA; Department of Microbiology, Wing Hall, Cornell University Ithaca, New York, USA.
authors: Kevin W
authors: KW
authors: George
authors: Anthony G
authors: AG
authors: Hay
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D053858:Metabolic Networks and Pathways; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D009930:Organic Chemicals