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Engineering of Bacteria Using the Vitreoscilla Hemoglobin Gene to Enhance Bioremediation of Aromatic Compounds

  • Protocol
Environmental Microbiology

Part of the book series: Methods in Biotechnology ((MIBT,volume 16))

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Abstract

The hemoglobin (VHb) from the Gram-negative bacterium Vitreoscilla was originally discovered in 1966 (1). It was initially thought to be a soluble form of the terminal oxidase of the respiratory chain (cytochrome bo) until its correct identification as a hemoglobin in 1986 (2). It was originally proposed that the role of VHb in Vitreoscilla is to help provide oxygen to the cell, particularly under conditions of oxygen shortage, to enhance respiratory ATP production. This idea fits well with the large induction in VHb levels that occurs at low oxygen concentrations (3). It was further proposed that VHb may deliver oxygen directly to cytochrome bo (3); supportive evidence, but not proof, exists for this idea (4–6).

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL

    Benjamin C. Stark & Dale A. Webster

  2. Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL

    Krishna R. Pagilla

Authors
  1. Benjamin C. Stark
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  2. Dale A. Webster
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  3. Krishna R. Pagilla
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos (PROIMI)-CONICET, San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina

    John F. T. Spencer  & Alicia L. Ragout de Spencer  & 

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© 2004 Humana Press Inc.

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Stark, B.C., Webster, D.A., Pagilla, K.R. (2004). Engineering of Bacteria Using the Vitreoscilla Hemoglobin Gene to Enhance Bioremediation of Aromatic Compounds. In: Walker, J.M., Spencer, J.F.T., Ragout de Spencer, A.L. (eds) Environmental Microbiology. Methods in Biotechnology, vol 16. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-765-3:379

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-765-3:379

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-58829-116-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-765-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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