Defluorination of Monofluoroacetate by Bacteria

Abstract

Monofluoroacetate (FA) is well known as a toxic substance and has been used as an insecticide: C-F linkage of which is very stable. Bacteria, capable of being grown in a defined salt medium containing FA as a sole source of carbon, have been isolated from soil. It has been found that the defluorination of FA involved an enzyme which catalyzes the conversion of FA to glycolate and fluoride ions and that the enzyme was induced when bacteria were grown in a defined salt medium containing FA as a sole source of carbon. The activity of defluorination was fairly stable and strong in this organism.