Molecular bases of aerobic bacterial degradation of dioxins: Involvement of angular dioxygenation

In the last decade, extensive investigation has been done on the bacterial degradation of dioxins and its related compounds, because this class of chemicals is highly toxic and has been widely distributed in the environment. These studies have revealed the primary importance of a novel dioxygenation reaction, called angular dioxygenation, in the aerobic bacterial degradation pathway of dioxin. Accompanied by the electron transport proteins, Rieske nonheme iron oxygenase catalyzes the incorporation of oxygen atoms to the ether bond-carrying carbon (the angular position) and an adjacent carbon, resulting in the irreversible cleavage of the recalcitrant aryl ether bond. The 2,21,3-trihydroxybiphenyl or 2,2',3-trihydroxydiphenyl ether derivatives formed are degraded through meta cleavage. In addition to the degradation system of dibenzofuran and dibenzo-p-dioxin (the nonchlorinated model compounds of dioxin), those of fluorene and carbazole were shown to function in dioxin degradation. Some dioxin degradation pathways have been studied biochemically and genetically. In addition, feasibility studies have shown that some dioxin-degrading strains can function in actual dioxin-contaminated soil. These studies provide useful information for the establishment of a bioremediation method for dioxin contamination. This review summarizes recent progress on molecular and biochemical bases of the bacterial aerobic degradation of dioxin and related compounds.