Abstract
Rhodococcus sp. strain AD45 was isolated from an enrichment culture on isoprene (2-methyl-1,3-butadiene). Isoprene-grown cells of strain AD45 oxidized isoprene to 3,4-epoxy-3-methyl-1-butene, cis-1, 2-dichloroethene to cis-1,2-dichloroepoxyethane, and trans-1, 2-dichloroethene to trans-1,2-dichloroepoxyethane. Isoprene-grown cells also degraded cis-1,2-dichloroepoxyethane and trans-1, 2-dichloroepoxyethane. All organic chlorine was liberated as chloride during degradation of cis-1,2-dichloroepoxyethane. A glutathione (GSH)-dependent activity towards 3, 4-epoxy-3-methyl-1-butene, epoxypropane, cis-1,2-dichloroepoxyethane, and trans-1,2-dichloroepoxyethane was detected in cell extracts of cultures grown on isoprene and 3,4-epoxy-3-methyl-1-butene. The epoxide-degrading activity of strain AD45 was irreversibly lost upon incubation of cells with 1,2-epoxyhexane. A conjugate of GSH and 1, 2-epoxyhexane was detected in cell extracts of cells exposed to 1, 2-epoxyhexane, indicating that GSH is the physiological cofactor of the epoxide-transforming activity. The results indicate that a GSH S-transferase is involved in the metabolism of isoprene and that the enzyme can detoxify reactive epoxides produced by monooxygenation of chlorinated ethenes.