Novel Bacterial Genes Involved in Aerobic Dechlorination of Hexachlorobenzene Hexachlorobenzene (HCB; C 6 Cl 6 ) is one of the most widely distributed persistent organic pollutants in the world. To date, only a few microorganisms capable of metabolizing HCB have been isolated, and processes responsible for its degradation remain unclear. report the characterization of novel bacterial genes whose products catalyze the aerobic transformation of HCB to pentachlorophenol (C 6 HCl 5 O). The possible

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... involvement of flavoproteins was deduced from the amino acid sequences encoded by these genes. This study provides new insight into the bacterial processes involved in aerobic dechlorination of HCB.