a number of halogenated compounds are environmentally toxic industrial by-products, and it has been suggested that haloalkane dehalogenases may be useful catalysts for their biodegradation, with potential applications in bioremediation. in biocatalysis, there is a standing interest in these enzymes, particularly for the production of optically pure alcohols. therefore, the identification of dehalogenating enzymes with appropriate selectivity patterns is very important in terms of their industrial utility.