The Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Xenobiotic Polymer Degradation by Microorganisms

• Published in: Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry Vol. 74; no. 9; pp. 1743 - 1759
• Main Author: KAWAI, Fusako
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Tokyo Japan Society for Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Agrochemistry 2010; Japan Society for Bioscience Biotechnology and Agrochemistry; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: aliphatic-co-aromatic polyester; Biochemistry; Biodegradability; biodegradation; Biodegradation, Environmental; Biological; Biological and medical sciences; Biotechnology; Degradation; Environmental Microbiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Mathematical analysis; Microbiology; Microorganisms; molecular biology; polyethylene glycol; polymers; Polymers - metabolism; polyvinyl alcohol; symbiotic degradation; xenobiotic polymers; xenobiotics; Xenobiotics - metabolism; Symbiosis; polyethylene glycol; Aliphatic compound; Ester polymer; symbiotic degradation; Polymer; Biochemistry; aliphatic-co-aromatic polyester; Degradation; Ethylene oxide polymer; Polyvinylalcohol; polyvinyl alcohol; Microorganism; Molecular biology; Xenobiotic; xenobiotic polymers
• ISSN: 0916-8451; 1347-6947; 1347-6947
• DOI: 10.1271/bbb.100394

Research on microbial degradation of xenobiotic polymers has been underway for more than 40 years. It has exploited a new field not only in applied microbiology but also in environmental microbiology, and has greatly contributed to polymer science by initiating the design of biodegradable polymers. Owing to the development of analytical tools and technology, molecular biological and biochemical advances have made it possible to prospect for degrading microorganisms in the environment and to determine the mechanisms involved in biodegradation when xenobiotic polymers are introduced into the environment and are exposed to microbial attack. In this review, the molecular biological and biochemical aspects of the microbial degradation of xenobiotic polymers are summarized, and possible applications of potent microorganisms, enzymes, and genes in environmental biotechnology are suggested.