'Tricking' bacteria into hydroxylating benzene

(Nagoya University) Researchers at Nagoya University used bacteria to convert benzene into phenol. They developed 'decoy' molecules -- modified amino acids -- mimicking the native substrates of a genetically expressed oxygenase enzyme. When absorbed by live E.coli cells, the decoys were misrecognized as substrates of the oxygenase, which became activated. The bacteria then oxidized a supplied benzene source, needing only glucose as fuel.
Source: EurekAlert! - Biology - Category: Biology Source Type: news