Microbial dehalogenation: 3-chloropropanoic acid (3-CPA) degradation as a case study

Abstract

The rapid growth of chemical industries has resulted in increased production of halogenated compounds in the form of solvents, herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, intermediates for chemical synthesis etc.; that have subsequently added up in the environment. However, dumping of these compounds in the environment have directly or indirectly resulted in many health hazards to the animals including human being. Therefore, now a day’s microbial based degradation of these halogenated compounds is considered as a cost effective and potential method of treatment. 3 Chloropropanoic acid (3-CPA) is a less studied beta-chlorinated aliphatic compound and is widely used in agricultural industry as a herbicide and is highly toxic in nature. There is hardly any report that describes the microbial based dehalogenation mechanism and degradation of this haloacid pollutant. This review narrates the biochemical process involved in the microbial dehalogenation process in general and degradation of 3-CPA in particular. Here we have also elucidated the metabolic potential of 3-CPA, its degradation pathways with proposed future research aspects.