Abstract 1799 Mechanistic studies on Benzyl Succinate Synthase and Progress Towards Biocatalytic Applications

Benzyl succinate synthase (BSS) from Thauera aromatica catalyzes the addition of fumarate to toluene, the first step in the anaerobic degradation of toluene. Toluene is a component of crude oil and gasoline, and this aromatic hydrocarbon, along with other BTEX compounds (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes), poses environmental and health risks due to their toxic and carcinogenic properties. The ability of BSS to initiate toluene degradation without molecular oxygen holds potential for addressing oil pollution in anaerobic environments, where these harmful compounds can persist.