Degradation of 2-Chloroethylvinylether by <i>Ancylobacter aquaticus</i> AD25 and AD27

Incubation of five different β-chloroethers with slurries prepared from brackish water sediment or activated sludge revealed that bis(2-chloroethyl)ether and 2-chloroethylvinylether (2-CVE) were biodegradable under aerobic conditions. After enrichment, two different cultures of Ancylobacter aquaticus that are capable of growth on 2-CVE were isolated. Both cultures were also able to grow on 1,2-dichloroethane. The cells contained a haloalkane dehalogenase that dehalogenated 2-CVE, 2-chloroethylmethylether, 2-bromoethylethylether, and epichlorohydrin. Experiments with cell extracts indicated that an alcohol dehydrogenase and an aldehyde dehydrogenase were also involved in the degradation of 2-CVE. This suggests that 2-CVE is metabolized via 2-hydroxyethylvinylether and vinyloxyacetaldehyde to vinyloxyacetic acid. Enzymatic ether cleavage was not detected. 2-CVE was also degraded by chemical ether cleavage, leading to the formation of 2-chloroethanol and acetaldehyde, both of which supported growth. We propose that A. aquaticus strains may be important for the detoxification and degradation of halogenated aliphatic compounds in the environment.