Function
Catalyzes hydrolytic cleavage of carbon-halogen bonds in halogenated aliphatic compounds, leading to the formation of the corresponding primary alcohols, halide ions and protons. Has a broad substrate specificity since not only monochloroalkanes (C3 to C10) but also dichloroalkanes (> C3), bromoalkanes, and chlorinated aliphatic alcohols are good substrates (PubMed:9293022, PubMed:10100638). Shows almost no activity with 1,2-dichloroethane, but very high activity with the brominated analog (PubMed:9293022). Is involved in the degradation of the important environmental pollutant gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane (gamma-HCH or lindane) as it also catalyzes conversion of 1,3,4,6-tetrachloro-1,4-cyclohexadiene (1,4-TCDN) to 2,5-dichloro-2,5-cyclohexadiene-1,4-diol (2,5-DDOL) via the intermediate 2,4,5-trichloro-2,5-cyclohexadiene-1-ol (2,4,5-DNOL) (PubMed:7691794). This degradation pathway allows S.japonicum UT26 to grow on gamma-HCH as the sole source of carbon and energy.