ASM Conference on
Biodegradation, Biotransformation, and Biocatalysis (B3)
October 2-6, 2001
San Juan, Puerto Rico

In collaboration with the
Society for General Microbiology

Contents of This Page:

Scientific Organizing Committee
Proposed Session Topics
Tentative Program and Confirmed Speakers

Links to Other Pages:

General Information
Registration Form

Scientific Organizing Committee

David Gibson
University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa

Hilary Lappin-Scott
University of Exeter
Devon, United Kingdom

Gary Sayler
University of Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee

James Tiedje
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan

Gary Toranzos
University of Puerto Rico
Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico

Session Topics

The following topics will be covered in the conference program.
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Biodegradation and Environmental Fate of Organic Pollutants
Anaerobic Biodegradation and Biocatalysis
Genetics of Biodegradation and Biotransformation
Microbial Communities/Biofilms
Metabolic Engineering
Fungal Transformations and Secondary Metabolism
Biocatalysis and Industrial Enzymes
Oxygenases in Biocatalysis and Biodegradation
Stereoselective Biosynthesis
Directed Evolution for Novel Reactions
Mining Genomes/Bioinformatics

Tentative Program and Confirmed Speakers
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Tuesday, October 2, 2001

Noon-6pm: Registration

6-8 pm (sunset): Opening Reception at the Fort San Geronimo

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Wednesday, October 3, 2001

8-9 am: Group Breakfast

9am-12:30 pm: Session I Presentations

Keynote Address
James Tiedje, Michigan State University

Biodegradation Pathways as Sources of Novel Biocatalysts
Jim C. Spain, US Air Force

Short Talks Selected from Abstracts

Biocatalysis in the Selective Oxidation of Arenes
Derek R. Boyd, The Queen’s University of Belfast

Bacterial Growth on the Potent Antimicrobial Triclosan
Anthony Hay, Cornell University

Expanding the Limits of Naphthalene Dioxygenase as a Biocatalyst
Rebecca E. Parales, University of Iowa

12:30-2 pm: Group Lunch

2-4 pm: Poster Session I

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Thursday, October 4, 2001

8-9 am: Group Breakfast

9-12:30 pm: Session II Presentations

Methane Monooxygenase-Catalysed Oxidation of Hydrocarbons: Mechanistic Studies
Howard Dalton, University of Warwick

The Biodegradation of Atrazine: Lessons to be Learned from Genetic and Genomic Approaches
Michael Sadowsky, University of Minnesota

Short Talks Selected from the Abstracts

Enzyme Catalysed Desymmetrisation Reactions for the Synthesis of Chiral Compounds
Nicholas J. Turner, University of Edinburgh

Development of Dehalogenases for Industrial Products
Mani Subramanian, The Dow Chemical Company

The Anaerobic Oxidation of Hydrocarbons: The Role of Fumarate Addition Reactions
Joseph Suflita, The University of Oklahoma

12:30-2:30 pm: Group Lunch and Poster Session II

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Friday, October 5, 2001

8-9 am: Group Breakfast

9am-12:30 pm: Session III Presentations

Streptomyces griseus: Catechol O-Methyltransferase, Glutathione-S-Transferase and Flavonoid Biotransformations
John P. Rosazza, University of Iowa|

The Genetic Capacity of the Genus Rhodococcus for the Biodegradation of Organic Pollutants
Michael Larkin, The Queen’s University of Belfast

Short Talks Selected from the Abstracts

The Use of Engineered Bacterial Strains to Support the Biocatalysis of Glucose to 1, 3-Propanediol
Gregg Whited, Genencor International, Inc.

Novel Thermophilic Enzymes and Their Application in Biocatalysis
Jenny Littlechild, University of Exeter

Catalyst and Process Design for Large Scale Biotransformations Using Oxygenases
Andreas Schmid, ETH Zurich

12:30-2 pm: Group Lunch

2-4:30 pm: Session IV Presentations

The Nag Genes of Ralstonia U2: A Second Paradigm for Naphthalene Catabolism
Peter A. Williams, University of Wales Bangor

Synthesis of Complex Carbohydrates for Medicine and Biology Using Glycosidases
David Crout, University of Warwick

Metabolic Blocks in the Microbial Degradation of PCBs
Lindsay Eltis, University of British Columbia

High-Throughput Biocatalysis for Synthetic Transformations
Jonathan S. Dordick, Rensselear Polytechnic Institute

7-11 pm: Reception & Banquet

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Saturday, October 6, 2001

8-9 am: Group Breakfast

9am-12:30 pm: Session V Presentations

Molecular and Biochemical Characterization of p-Nitrophenol Degradation by Arthrobacter sp. Strain JS443
Gerben Zylstra, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

New Uses for Old Enzymes: Biodegradation and Biotransformation of Explosives
Neil Bruce, University of Cambridge Institute of Biotechnology

Potentials and Limitations to Eliminate Electron Deficient Xenobiotics: Chloroethenes and Nitroaromatics
Hans-Joach Knackmuss, Universität Stuttgart

Recent Progresses in the Use of Microbial Epoxide Hydrolases as "Green Chemistry" Tools for Obtaining Enantiopure Epoxides
Roland Furstoss, Université de la Méditerranée

Conference Summary: The Breadth of Biodegradation, Biotransformation, and Biocatalysis
Larry Wackett, University of Minnesota

Program Note: In each session, additional short talks will be selected from the submitted abstracts. The selected presentations will be added to the program in late July.