Xiangyu Kong

Unexpected roles of aromatic ring-cleaving dioxygenases in oxygen-heterocycle degradation: Functional diversity, gene redundancy, and ecological implications.

Oxygen-containing heterocycles (O-heterocycles), including tetrahydrofuran (THF) and 1,4-dioxane, are emerging water contaminants of growing concern because of their persistence and recalcitrance to conventional treatment processes. Biodegradation of these compounds requires ring cleavage, yet the enzymes responsible f...