Novel organization of genes in a phthalate degradation operon of Mycobacterium vanbaalenii PYR-1

Molecular and biochemical analysis of phthalate and terephthalate degradation byRhodococcussp. strain DK17

Alkylbenzene-degrading Rhodococcus sp. strain DK17 is able to utilize phthalate and terephthalate as growth substrates. The genes encoding the transformation of phthalate and terephthalate to protocatechuate are organized as two separate operons, located 6.7kb away from each other. Interestingly, both the phthalate and terephthalate operons are induced in response to terephthalate while expression of the terephthalate genes is undetectable in phthalate-grown cells. In addition to two known plasmids (380-kb pDK1 and 330-kb pDK2), a third megaplasmid (750-kb pDK3) was newly identified in DK17. The phthalate and terephthalate operons are duplicated and are present on both pDK2 and pDK3. RT-PCR experiments, coupled with sequence analysis, suggest that phthalate and terephthalate degradation in DK17 proceeds through oxygenation at carbons 3 and 4 and at carbons 1 and 2 to form 3,4-dihydro-3,4-dihydroxyphthalate and 1,2-dihydro-1,2-dihydroxyterephthalate, respectively. The 3,4-dihydroxyphthalate pathway was further corroborated through colorometric tests. Apparently, the two dihydrodiol metabolites are subsequently dehydrogenated and decarboxylated to form protocatechuate, which is further degraded by a protocatechuate 3,4-dioxygenase as confirmed by a ring-cleavage enzyme assay.

Molecular characterization of cytochrome P450 genes in the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon degrading Mycobacterium vanbaalenii PYR-1

Mycobacterium vanbaalenii PYR-1 has the ability to degrade low- and high-molecular-weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). In addition to dioxygenases, cytochrome P450 monooxygenases have been implicated in PAH degradation. Three cytochrome P450 genes, cyp151 (pipA), cyp150, and cyp51, were detected and amplified by polymerase chain reaction from M. vanbaalenii PYR-1. The complete sequence of these genes was determined. The translated putative proteins were > or = 80% identical to other GenBank-listed mycobacterial CYP151, CYP150, and CYP51. Genes pipA and cyp150 were cloned, and the proteins partially expressed in Escherichia coli as soluble heme-containing cytochrome P450s that exhibited a characteristic peak at 450 nm in reduced carbon monoxide difference spectra. Monooxygenation metabolites of pyrene, dibenzothiophene, and 7-methylbenz[alpha]anthracene were detected in whole cell biotransformations, with E. coli expressing pipA or cyp150 when analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The cytochrome P450 inhibitor metyrapone strongly inhibited the S-oxidation of dibenzothiophene. Thirteen other Mycobacterium strains were screened for the presence of pipA, cyp150, and cyp51 genes, as well as the initial PAH dioxygenase (nidA and nidB). The results indicated that many of the Mycobacterium spp. surveyed contain both monooxygenases and dioxygenases to degrade PAHs. Our results provide further evidence for the diverse enzymatic capability of Mycobacterium spp. to metabolize polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

Degradation of benz[a]anthracene by Mycobacterium vanbaalenii strain PYR-1

Cultures of Mycobacterium vanbaalenii strain PYR-1 grown in mineral salts medium and nutrients in the presence of benz[a]anthracene metabolized 15% of the added benz[a]anthracene after 12 days of incubation. Neutral and acidic ethyl acetate extractable metabolites were isolated and characterized by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and uv-visible absorption, gas chromatography/mass (GC/MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectral analysis. Trimethylsilylation of the metabolites followed by GC/MS analysis facilitated identification of metabolites. The characterization of metabolites indicated that M. vanbaalenii initiated attack of benz[a]anthracene at the C-1,2-, C-5,6-, C-7,12- and C-10,11-positions to form dihydroxylated and methoxylated intermediates. The major site of enzymatic attack was in the C-10, C-11 positions. Subsequent ortho- and meta-cleavage of each of the aromatic rings led to the accumulation of novel ring-fission metabolites in the medium. The major metabolites identified were 3-hydrobenzo[f]isobenzofuran-1-one (3.2%), 6-hydrofuran[3,4-g]chromene-2,8-dione (1.3%), benzo[g]chromene-2-one (1.7%), naphtho[2,1-g]chromen-10-one (48.1%), 10-hydroxy-11-methoxybenz[a]anthracene (9.3%), and 10,11-dimethoxybenz[a]anthracene (36.4%). Enzymatic attack at the C-7 and C-12 positions resulted in the formation of benz[a]anthracene-7,12-dione, 1-(2-hydroxybenzoyl)-2-naphthoic acid, and 1-benzoyl-2-naphthoic acid. A phenyl-naphthyl metabolite, 3-(2-carboxylphenyl)-2-naphthoic acid, was formed when M. vanbaalenii was incubated with benz[a]anthracene cis-5,6-dihydrodiol, indicating ortho-cleavage of 5,6-dihydroxybenz[a]anthracene. A minor amount of 5,6-dimethoxybenz[a]anthracene was also formed. The data extend and propose novel pathways for the bacterial metabolism of benz[a]anthracene.

Molecular characterization of a phenanthrene degradation pathway in Mycobacterium vanbaalenii PYR-1

Mycobacterium vanbaalenii PYR-1 is capable of degrading a number of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) to ring cleavage metabolites via multiple pathways. Genes for the large and small subunits of a pyrene dioxygenase, nidA and nidB, respectively, were previously identified in M. vanbaalenii PYR-1 [Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 67 (2001) 3577]. A library of the M. vanbaalenii PYR-1 genome was constructed in a fosmid vector to identify additional genes involved in PAH degradation. Twelve fosmid clones containing nidA were identified by Southern hybridization. Sequence analysis of one nidA-positive clone, pFOS608, revealed a number of additional genes involved in PAH degradation. At this locus, one putative operon contained genes involved in phthalate degradation, and another contained genes encoding a putative ABC transporter(s). A number of the genes found in this region are homologous to those involved in phenanthrene degradation via the phthalic acid pathway. The majority of phenanthrene degradation genes were located between putative transposase genes. In Escherichia coli, pFOS608 converted phenanthrene into phenanthrene cis-3,4-dihydrodiol, and converted 1-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid into 2'-carboxybenzalpyruvate, 2-carboxybenzaldehyde, and phthalic acid. A subclone containing nidA and nidB converted phenanthrene into phenanthrene cis-3,4-dihydrodiol, suggesting that the NidAB dioxygenase is responsible for an initial attack on phenanthrene. This study is the first to identify genes responsible for the degradation of phenanthrene via the phthalic acid pathway in Mycobacterium species.