The Utilization of Nitriles and Amides by Nocardia rhodochrous

Enzymatic mechanism and biochemistry for cyanide degradation: A review

“…Acetonitrile has been used as an inducer for the formation of nitrilase in Fusarium oxysporum. The use of isobutyronitrile or isovaleronitrile enhanced the production of benzonitrilase in R. rhodococcus J1 [73]. It has been observed in most cases that different subunits of nitrilase self-associate to convert the enzyme to the active form.…”

Selective hydrolysis of dinitriles into cyano-carboxylic acids by Rhodococcus rhodochrous N.C.I.B. 11216

“…Furthermore, some authors have suggested that growth on aliphatic or aromatic nitriles induced, respectively, aliphatic or aromatic nitrilases which differed with respect to nitrile substrate specificities (Harper 1977;Collins and Knowles 1983). Apparently, the nitrilase system of Rhodococcus rhodochrous N.C.I.B.…”

The current and future applications of microorganism in the bioremediation of cyanide contamination

“…A number of microorganisms have multiple nitrile degrading pathways. Characterisation of nitrile utilisation by Rhodococcus (Nocardia) rhodochrous LL100-21 identified the induction of nitrile hydratase and amidase activities by acetonitrile, however, the degradation of benzonitrile was found to proceed via nitrilase activity (Collins and Knowles 1983;Thompson et al 1988). Similarly, the thermophilic bacterium Bacillus pallidus Dac521 was found to grow on acetonitrile and benzonitrile as a sole source of nitrogen and carbon and it was suggested that acetonitrile degradation occurred via the nitrile hydratase pathway, whereas, benzonitrile degradation was via a nitrilase pathway.…”