Elsevier

Gene

Volume 115, Issues 1–2, 15 June 1992, Pages 189-192
Gene

Actinomycetes as agents of biodegradation in the environment — a review

https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-1119(92)90558-7Get rights and content

Abstract

The diversity of form in the Actinomycetales is well-recognised, due to the sustained generation of environmental isolates for pharmaceutical screening. Actinomycetes isolated from soil and related substrates show primary biodegradative activity, secreting a range of extracellular enzymes and exhibiting the capacity to metabolise recalcitrant molecules. Composting is one process which relies heavily on such prolific actinomycete activity. Amongst actinomycetes in soil, there are examples of different strategies, from cycles of rapid proliferation and sporulation to the maintenance of populations by prolonged slow growth and scavengine, and the evidence for this is examined. The mechanisms of lignocellulose degradation by actinomycetes are discussed in relation to functional conservation within the group, and correlations with those described in other bacteria and fungi.

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Presented at the International Symposium on Biology of Actinomycetes, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI (USA) 11–16 August 1991.

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