Comparative biochemistry of organohalide respiration

Abstract

Corrinoid-containing reductive dehalogenases (RDases) play a key role in the energy metabolism of anaerobic organohalide-respiring bacteria (OHRB). In such microorganisms the reductive dehalogenation of organohalides catalyzed by RDases is coupled to ATP synthesis via electron transport phosphorylation. The overview presented here summarizes the actual knowledge about the biochemical properties and catalytic mechanism(s) of these enzymes found in bacteria of various phylogenetic affiliation. Furthermore, based on recent findings the multistep biosynthesis of the membrane-associated RDases and the achievements in functional heterologous production of these corrinoid-containing iron-sulfur proteins are described. Up to date, little is known about the composition of the organohalide respiratory chain in OHRB and the interaction of the RDases with other electron-transferring components in the cytoplasmic membrane. In this summary, actual models of different organohalide respiratory chains are included.