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Nitrile hydrolysing enzymes: Fungal nitrilases
Vejvoda, Vojtěch ; Martínková, Ludmila (advisor) ; Wimmer, Zdeněk (referee) ; Vosáhlová, Simona (referee)
Charles University in Prague Faculty of Science Department of Biochemistry A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Nitrile-hydrolysing enzymes: Fungal nitrilases Mgr. Vojtěch Vejvoda Supervisor: Ing. Ludmila Martínková, CSc. Laboratory of Biotransformation, Institute of Microbiology, v.v.i. Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic Consultant: Prof. RNDr. Karel Bezouška, DrSc. Faculty of Science, Department of Biochemistry, , Charles University in Prague Prague 2010 INTRODUCTION Nitriles are widespread in the environment - not only as the natural products of plants but also as the secondary metabolites of microorganisms or higher organisms. Synthetic nitriles and inorganic cyanides occur as pollutants from human activities (industrial wastes, herbicides, etc.). Both natural and man-made nitriles are poisonous to many organisms, the natural ones serving as a protection against enemies (e.g. herbivores). Their toxic activity is used in some herbicides. However, all of these compounds may exert negative effects on other beings living in the particular environment and create selection pressures, probably leading to the evolution of enzymes catalyzing the detoxification of nitriles, or, even better, utilizing them as the source of energy and nutrients. Nitrile-metabolizing enzymes are...
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