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A Review on the Genetics of Aliphatic and Aromatic Hydrocarbon Degradation

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Abstract

Because of the high diversity of hydrocarbons, degradation of each class of these compounds is activated by a specific enzyme. However, most of other downstream enzymes necessary for complete degradation of hydrocarbons maybe common between different hydrocarbons. The genes encoding proteins for degradation of hydrocarbons, including the proteins required for the uptake of these molecules, the specific enzyme used for the initial activation of the molecules and other necessary degrading enzymes are usually arranged as an operon. Although the corresponding genes in many phylogenetic groups of microbial species show different levels of diversity in terms of the gene sequence, the organisation of the genes in the genome or on plasmids and the activation mode (inductive or constitutive), some organisms show identical hydrocarbon-degrading genes, probably as a result of horizontal gene transfer between microorganisms.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to appreciate Australian Government, University of South Australia, University of Newcastle and Cooperative Research Centre for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment (CRC-CARE) for funding towards this research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Global Centre for Environmental Remediation (GCER), Faculty of Science and Information Technology, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW2308, Australia

    Firouz Abbasian, Mallavarapu Megharaj & Ravi Naidu

  2. Cooperative Research Centre for Environmental Risk Assessment and Remediation of the Environment (CRC-CARE), University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia

    Firouz Abbasian, Mallavarapu Megharaj & Ravi Naidu

  3. Future Industry Institute (FFI), University of South Australia, Callaghan, Australia

    Robin Lockington

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  1. Firouz Abbasian
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Abbasian, F., Lockington, R., Megharaj, M. et al. A Review on the Genetics of Aliphatic and Aromatic Hydrocarbon Degradation. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 178, 224–250 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-015-1881-y

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