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Transformation Products of Synthetic Chemicals in the Environment pp 3–16Cite as

Mechanisms of Degradation of Synthetic Chemicals

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Part of the book series: The Handbook of Environmental Chemistry ((HEC2,volume 2P))

Abstract

The fate of chemicals in the environment is largely dependent upon microbial biodegradation, or a lack thereof. Biodegradation derives from the extremely broad types of metabolic reactions catalyzed by microbes. Diverse microbial metabolism is represented in the University of Minnesota Biocatalysis/Biodegradation Database (UM-BBD), which is freely available on the Web. The UM-BBD encompasses metabolism of 60 organic functional groups. On average, there are four reaction types for each functional group. Each of these reaction types underlies a metabolic rule. Metabolic rules have formed the basis of a computational system used to predict the biodegradative pathways of chemicals. Many pathways may be predicted. To deal with pathway combinatorial explosion, a rule-prioritization system has been implemented. Additional tools are under development to better understand the underlying characteristics of biodegradative metabolism with the hope of improving biodegradation prediction.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics and BioTechnology Institute, University of Minnesota, 1479 Gortner Avenue, 55108, St. Paul, MN, USA

    Lawrence P. Wackett

  2. Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, 55455, Minneapolis, MN, USA

    Lynda B. M. Ellis

Authors
  1. Lawrence P. Wackett
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  2. Lynda B. M. Ellis
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lawrence P. Wackett .

Editor information

Alistair B. A. Boxall

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© 2008 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Wackett, L.P., Ellis, L.B.M. (2008). Mechanisms of Degradation of Synthetic Chemicals. In: Boxall, A.B.A. (eds) Transformation Products of Synthetic Chemicals in the Environment. The Handbook of Environmental Chemistry, vol 2P. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/698_2_014

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