Open AccessBiochemistry, genetics and physiology of microbial styrene degradation
Author(s) -
O'Leary Niall D.,
O'Connor Kevin E.,
Dobson Alan D.W.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
fems microbiology reviews
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.91
H-Index - 212
eISSN - 1574-6976
pISSN - 0168-6445
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6976.2002.tb00622.x
Subject(s) - bioremediation , styrene , catabolism , microbial biodegradation , biology , biodegradation , petrochemical , degradation (telecommunications) , biochemical engineering , bacteria , biochemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , microorganism , computational biology , enzyme , chemistry , genetics , polymer , ecology , organic chemistry , telecommunications , engineering , copolymer , computer science
Abstract The last few decades have seen a steady increase in the global production and utilisation of the alkenylbenzene, styrene. The compound is of major importance in the petrochemical and polymer‐processing industries, which can contribute to the pollution of natural resources via the release of styrene‐contaminated effluents and off‐gases. This is a cause for some concern as human over‐exposure to styrene, and/or its early catabolic intermediates, can have a range of destructive health effects. These features have prompted researchers to investigate routes of styrene degradation in microorganisms, given the potential application of these organisms in bioremediation/biodegradation strategies. This review aims to examine the recent advances which have been made in elucidating the underlying biochemistry, genetics and physiology of microbial styrene catabolism, identifying areas of interest for the future and highlighting the potential industrial importance of individual catabolic pathway enzymes.