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Klara Hlouchova
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Project: Study of pentachlorophenol hydroxylase, a key enzyme in a novel microbial metabolic pathway for pentachlorophenol degradationKlara Hlouchova is working in Shelley Copley’s group investigating a novel metabolic pathway that has evolved in the soil bacterium Sphingobium chlorophenolicum in response to the extensive use of pentachlorophenol (PCP)—a pesticide that has been contaminating the environment since the 1930s. The S. chlorophenolicum pathway can degrade PCP, but because the pathway is at a very earl stage of evolution, it is still quite inefficient. Hlouchova intends to uncover the structures of the key PCP degradation enzymes from S. chlorophenolicum and to address the reasons for their poor catalytic ability. Using in vitro evolution techniques, her goal is to evolve an improved version of S. chlorophenolicum that could be used for remediation of PCP-contaminated waste streams. In her time at CIRES, Hlouchova is looking forward to experiencing the Boulder lifestyle with her family. “We will likely enjoy exploring the beautiful mountain trails and kids playgrounds together,” she says. “We are also looking forward to clear night skies that are harder to see in bigger cities.” |
