Analysis of Methyl tert-Butyl Ether (MTBE) Metabolism

描述（由申请人提供）：本阶段SBIR研究的目标是 开始阐明甲基叔丁基 醚（MTBE）代谢。甲基叔丁基醚已被确定为第二个最常见的 污染物的城市地面沃茨在美国，它威胁到 数百万美国人的健康，他们可能通过饮酒来消费它， 水这项研究的结果将使我们1）更好地了解和 预测这种重要的地下水污染物在环境中的命运; 2)更好地了解叔碳分子如MTBE是如何代谢的， 高等生物;和3）开发改进的水处理方法，以减少 人类通过饮用水源暴露于MTBE的风险。期间 为期六个月的第一阶段项目，我们将克隆，表达和测序MTBE降解 来自最近分离的MTBE降解细菌ENV 735菌株的基因。期间 接下来的工作，我们将评估MTBE降解基因的调控， 更好地了解如何改善地下水中MTBE的原位降解， 并确定改善饮用水性能的机制 减少人类甲基叔丁基醚暴露的处理系统。我们还将评估 MTBE降解酶的生物化学，以帮助了解人类细胞如何 代谢小的叔碳分子如甲基叔丁基醚。 拟议商业应用：不可用

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The goal of this Phase I SBIR research is to begin to elucidate the genetic and enzymatic mechanisms of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) metabolism. MTBE has been identified as the second most common contaminant of urban ground waters in the United States, and it threatens the health of millions of Americans who may consume it through their drinking water. The results of this research will allow us to 1) better understand and predict the fate of this important groundwater contaminant in the environment; 2) better understand how tertiary carbon molecules like MTBE are metabolized in higher organisms; and 3) develop improved water treatment methods to reduce the risk of human exposure to MTBE through drinking water sources. During the six-month Phase I project we will clone, express, and sequence MTBE degradation genes from a recently isolated MTBE-degrading bacterium, strain ENV735. During follow on work we will evaluate the regulation of the MTBE-degrading genes to better understand how to improve in situ degradation of MTBE in groundwater, and to identify mechanisms for improving the performance of drinking water treatment systems to reduce human MTBE exposure. We also will evaluate the biochemistry of MTBE-degrading enzymes to help understand how human cells may metabolize small tertiary carbon molecules like MTBE. PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: NOT AVAILABLE