Characterization of Chemically Modified Enzymes for Bioremediation Reactions

Abstract

Remediation processes frequently involve species possessing limited solubility in water. For this project, we were interested in novel strategies using molecularly modified enzymes with enhanced activity and stability for remediation of recalcitrant compounds in organic solvents. Performance of naturally occurring enzymes is usually quite limited in such organic environments. The primary objective of the work was to gain a fundamental understanding of the molecular and catalytic properties of enzymes that have been chemically modified so that they are catalytically active and chemically stable in organic solvents. The premise was that stabilized and activated enzymes, which can function under harsh chemical conditions, are optimally suited for bioremediation in nonaqueous media where substrates of interest are more soluble and processed with greater efficiency. This unique strategy was examined with respect to the degradation of chlorophenols and PCBs