Peter W. Coschigano, Ph.D.

     The research in my lab focuses on the biodegradation of toxic compounds under anaerobic conditions.   Work is currently focused on strain T1, a bacterial strain able to grow on toluene, a component of gasoline and crude oil, under denitrifying conditions.  Genetic and molecular techniques are being used to identify and clone genes involved in the toluene utilization pathway of this organism.  A number of mutants have been isolated that are unable to metabolize toluene and genes have been cloned that are involved in T1 toluene metabolism. Characterization of one cloned gene (tutD) has revealed protein similarity to pyruvate formate lyase enzymes of other bacteria.  This homology suggests a possible mechanism in the metabolism of toluene. The isolation and characterization of additional genes is in progress.

     It is hoped that contaminated sites can be remediated using microorganisms. The results obtained from studying bacteria such as T1 that can degrade these toxic compounds can be useful in this clean-up effort.   These bacteria may also be able to detoxify waste products before disposal and may eventually be used to make useful products from what is now considered waste.

Selected References:

• Coschigano, P. W. 2000. Transcriptional analysis of the tutEtutFDGH gene cluster from Thauera aromatica strain T1. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 2000:66 1107-1113.

• Coschigano, P. W., T. S. Wehrman, and L. Y. Young. 1998. Identification and analysis of genes involved in anaerobic toluene metabolism by strain T1: putative role of a glycine free radical. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 64:1650-1656.

• Coschigano, P. W., and L. Y. Young. 1997. Identification and sequence analysis of two regulatory genes involved in anaerobic toluene metabolism by strain T1. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 63:652-660.

• Blinder, D., P. W. Coschigano, and B. Magasanik. 1996. Interaction of the GATA-factor Gln3p with the nitrogen regulator Ure2p in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. J. Bacteriol. 178:4734-4736.

• Frazer, A. C., P. W. Coschigano, and L. Y. Young. 1995. Toluene metabolism under anaerobic conditions: a review. Anaerobe. 1:293-303.