Microbial metabolism of the isoprenoid alkane pristane

Lipid biomarkers: molecular tools for illuminating the history of microbial life

Fossilized lipids preserved in sedimentary rocks offer singular insights into the Earth's palaeobiology. These 'biomarkers' encode information pertaining to the oxygenation of the atmosphere and oceans, transitions in ocean plankton, the greening of continents, mass extinctions and climate change. Historically, biomarker interpretations relied on inventories of lipids present in extant microorganisms and counterparts in natural environments. However, progress has been impeded because only a small fraction of the Earth's microorganisms can be cultured, many environmentally significant microorganisms from the past no longer exist and there are gaping holes in knowledge concerning lipid biosynthesis. The revolution in genomics and bioinformatics has provided new tools to expand our understanding of lipid biomarkers, their biosynthetic pathways and distributions in nature. In this Review, we explore how preserved organic molecules provide a unique perspective on the history of the Earth's microbial life. We discuss how advances in molecular biology have helped elucidate biomarker origins and afforded more robust interpretations of fossil lipids and how the rock record provides vital calibration points for molecular clocks. Such studies are open to further exploitation with the expansion of sequenced microbial genomes in accessible databases.

Correlation between initial biodegradability determined by docking studies and structure of alkylbenzene sulfonates: A new tool for intelligent design of environmentally friendly anionic surfactants

Gray water constitutes an important fraction of total wastewater. Some of the most problematic compounds in gray water are the anionic surfactants used as an ingredient for domestic and industrial soaps and detergents. The alkylbenzene sulfonates used in commercially available formula are highly complex mixtures of linear (LAS) and branched (BAS) molecules. LAS are classified generally as biodegradable, although their widespread use generates accumulation in the environment. Docking tools, widely used in recent years in the bioremediation field, allow molecular modeling of the ligand-enzyme interaction, which is key to understanding and evaluating the possibility of biodegradation. In this work, molecular details that allow us to establish a biodegradation pattern for some alkylbenzene sulfonates were elucidated. Two hydrogen bonds, key for the anchorage of surfactants to the monooxygenase active site involved in the initial biodegradation, were found. These bonds determine the way surfactants locate in the hydrophobic pocket of the enzyme affecting the biodegradation rate in a structurally dependent manner. For C10 to C12 linear isomers, the degradation rate increased together with the length of the hydrocarbon chain. For C13 and C14 isomers, steric difficulties to accommodate the surfactant molecule in the catalytic site were observed. For branched chain isomers, little or no biodegradation was found. In addition, biodegradation was lower in mixtures than for the pure isomers. These results will allow an intelligent design of this family of anionic surfactants to attenuate their contaminating effects in waters and soils. This study constitutes, to the best of our knowledge, a novel contribution towards the design of environmentally friendly surfactants with higher probabilities of being biodegraded to complete mineralization.

Differential protein expression during growth on linear versus branched alkanes in the obligate marine hydrocarbon-degrading bacterium Alcanivorax borkumensis SK2T

Alcanivorax borkumensis SK2^T is an important obligate hydrocarbonoclastic bacterium (OHCB) that can dominate microbial communities following marine oil spills. It possesses the ability to degrade branched alkanes which provides it a competitive advantage over many other marine alkane degraders that can only degrade linear alkanes. We used LC–MS/MS shotgun proteomics to identify proteins involved in aerobic alkane degradation during growth on linear (n‐C₁₄) or branched (pristane) alkanes. During growth on n‐C₁₄, A. borkumensis expressed a complete pathway for the terminal oxidation of n‐alkanes to their corresponding acyl‐CoA derivatives including AlkB and AlmA, two CYP153 cytochrome P450s, an alcohol dehydrogenase and an aldehyde dehydrogenase. In contrast, during growth on pristane, an alternative alkane degradation pathway was expressed including a different cytochrome P450, an alcohol oxidase and an alcohol dehydrogenase. A. borkumensis also expressed a different set of enzymes for β‐oxidation of the resultant fatty acids depending on the growth substrate utilized. This study significantly enhances our understanding of the fundamental physiology of A. borkumensis SK2^T by identifying the key enzymes expressed and involved in terminal oxidation of both linear and branched alkanes. It has also highlights the differential expression of sets of β‐oxidation proteins to overcome steric hinderance from branched substrates.

Variation of Oxygenation Conditions on a Hydrocarbonoclastic Microbial Community Reveals Alcanivorax and Cycloclasticus Ecotypes

Deciphering the ecology of marine obligate hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria (MOHCB) is of crucial importance for understanding their success in occupying distinct niches in hydrocarbon-contaminated marine environments after oil spills. In marine coastal sediments, MOHCB are particularly subjected to extreme fluctuating conditions due to redox oscillations several times a day as a result of mechanical (tide, waves and currents) and biological (bioturbation) reworking of the sediment. The adaptation of MOHCB to the redox oscillations was investigated by an experimental ecology approach, subjecting a hydrocarbon-degrading microbial community to contrasting oxygenation regimes including permanent anoxic conditions, anoxic/oxic oscillations and permanent oxic conditions. The most ubiquitous MOHCB, Alcanivorax and Cycloclasticus, showed different behaviors, especially under anoxic/oxic oscillation conditions, which were more favorable for Alcanivorax than for Cycloclasticus. The micro-diversity of 16S rRNA gene transcripts from these genera revealed specific ecotypes for different oxygenation conditions and their dynamics. It is likely that such ecotypes allow the colonization of distinct ecological niches that may explain the success of Alcanivorax and Cycloclasticus in hydrocarbon-contaminated coastal sediments during oil-spills.

Enrichment of aliphatic, alicyclic and aromatic acids by oil-degrading bacteria isolated from the rhizosphere of plants growing in oil-contaminated soil from Kazakhstan

Three microbial strains were isolated from the rhizosphere of alfalfa (Medicago sativa), grass mixture (Festuca rubra, 75 %; Lolium perenne, 20 %; Poa pratensis, 10 %), and rape (Brassica napus) on the basis of their high capacity to use crude oil as the sole carbon and energy source. These isolates used an unusually wide spectrum of hydrocarbons as substrates (more than 80), including n-alkanes with chain lengths ranging from C12 to C32, monomethyl- and monoethyl-substituted alkanes (C12-C23), n-alkylcyclo alkanes with alkyl chain lengths from 4 to 18 carbon atoms, as well as substituted monoaromatic and diaromatic hydrocarbons. These three strains were identified as Gordonia rubripertincta and Rhodococcus sp. SBUG 1968. During their transformation of this wide range of hydrocarbon substrates, a very large number of aliphatic, alicyclic, and aromatic acids was detected, 44 of them were identified by GC/MS analyses, and 4 of them are described as metabolites for the first time. Inoculation of plant seeds with these highly potent bacteria had a beneficial effect on shoot and root development of plants which were grown on oil-contaminated sand.

Identification of unresolved complex mixtures (UCMs) of hydrocarbons in commercial fish oil supplements

BACKGROUND

Heightened awareness of the health benefits of fish oil consumption has led to a great increase in the number of fish oil supplements available to the consumer. Therefore manufacturers are continually looking for ways to distinguish their products from those of competitors. Minimally refined or virgin fish oils provide a unique feature; however, petroleum hydrocarbon contamination from oil spills is a reality in the world's oceans. The question arises whether oil produced from fish species caught in these polluted areas is free of petroleum hydrocarbons, with particular interest in unresolved complex mixtures (UCMs). This study investigates the presence of UCMs in commercially available fish oil supplements advertised as being virgin, as well as refined.

RESULTS

Weathered petroleum hydrocarbons in the form of a UCM were found at 523 µg g(-1) in a virgin Alaskan salmon oil supplement. Supplements that were refined were free of this contamination.

CONCLUSION

Fish used in the production of fish oil supplements appear to have accumulated petrogenic hydrocarbons in their tissues which were not removed by minimal oil refining. Further study is required to determine if there are any health implications associated with long-term consumption of these contaminated supplements.

Impact of oil on bacterial community structure in bioturbated sediments

Oil spills threaten coastlines where biological processes supply essential ecosystem services. Therefore, it is crucial to understand how oil influences the microbial communities in sediments that play key roles in ecosystem functioning. Ecosystems such as sediments are characterized by intensive bioturbation due to burrowing macrofauna that may modify the microbial metabolisms. It is thus essential to consider the bioturbation when determining the impact of oil on microbial communities. In this study, an experimental laboratory device maintaining pristine collected mudflat sediments in microcosms closer to true environmental conditions – with tidal cycles and natural seawater – was used to simulate an oil spill under bioturbation conditions. Different conditions were applied to the microcosms including an addition of: standardized oil (Blend Arabian Light crude oil, 25.6 mg.g⁻¹ wet sediment), the common burrowing organism Hediste (Nereis) diversicolor and both the oil and H. diversicolor. The addition of H. diversicolor and its associated bioturbation did not affect the removal of petroleum hydrocarbons. After 270 days, 60% of hydrocarbons had been removed in all microcosms irrespective of the H. diversicolor addition. However, 16S-rRNA gene and 16S-cDNA T-RFLP and RT-PCR-amplicon libraries analysis showed an effect of the condition on the bacterial community structure, composition, and dynamics, supported by PerMANOVA analysis. The 16S-cDNA libraries from microcosms where H. diversicolor was added (oiled and un-oiled) showed a marked dominance of sequences related to Gammaproteobacteria. However, in the oiled-library sequences associated to Deltaproteobacteria and Bacteroidetes were also highly represented. The 16S-cDNA libraries from oiled-microcosms (with and without H. diversicolor addition) revealed two distinct microbial communities characterized by different phylotypes associated to known hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria and dominated by Gammaproteobacteria and Deltaproteobacteria. In the oiled-microcosms, the addition of H. diversicolor reduced the phylotype-richness, sequences associated to Actinobacteria, Firmicutes and Plantomycetes were not detected. These observations highlight the influence of the bioturbation on the bacterial community structure without affecting the biodegradation capacities.

Hydrocarbon biodegradation in hypersaline environments

When mineral oil, hexadecane, and glutamate were added to natural samples of varying salinity (3.3 to 28.4%) from salt evaporation ponds and Great Salt Lake, Utah, rates of metabolism of these compounds decreased as salinity increased. Rate limitations did not appear to relate to low oxygen levels or to the availability of organic nutrients. Some oxidation of l-[U-C]glutamic acid occurred even at extreme salinities, whereas oxidation of [1-C]hexadecane was too low to be detected. Gas chromatographic examination of hexane-soluble components of tar samples from natural seeps at Rozel Point in Great Salt Lake demonstrated no evidence of biological oxidation of isoprenoid alkanes subject to degradation in normal environments. Some hexane-soluble components of the same tar were altered by incubation in a low-salinity enrichment culture inoculated with garden soil. Attempts to enrich for microorganisms in saline waters able to use mineral oil as a sole source of carbon and energy were successful below, but not above, about 20% salinity. This study strongly suggests a general reduction of metabolic rate at extreme salinities and raises doubt about the biodegradation of hydrocarbons in hypersaline environments.

Anaerobic degradation of pristane in nitrate-reducing microcosms and enrichment cultures

Microcosm studies were conducted under nitrate-reducing conditions with diesel fuel-contaminated aquifer material from a site treated by in situ bioremediation. In the microcosms, the consumption of nitrate and the production of inorganic carbon were strongly stimulated by the addition of the isoprenoid alkane pristane (2,6,10,14-tetramethylpentadecane). Within 102 days enrichment cultures degraded more than 90% of the pristane supplied as coatings on reticulated sinter glass rings. The study demonstrates that pristane can no longer be regarded as recalcitrant under anaerobic conditions.

Microbial petroleum degradation: use of mixed hydrocarbon substrates

Methods of examining hydrocarbons to estimate the microbial degradation of petroleum are compared. Gas-liquid chromatography with a mixed hydrocarbon substrate has been shown to be useful in evaluating microbial potential for degradation of a number of hydrocarbons.

Microbial naphthenic Acid degradation

Naphthenic acids (NAs) are an important group of trace organic pollutants predominantly comprising saturated aliphatic and alicyclic carboxylic acids. NAs are ubiquitous; occurring naturally in hydrocarbon deposits (petroleum, oil sands, bitumen, and crude oils) and also have widespread industrial uses. Consequently, NAs can enter the environment from both natural and anthropogenic processes. NAs are highly toxic, recalcitrant compounds that persist in the environment for many years, and it is important to develop efficient bioremediation strategies to decrease both their abundance and toxicity in the environment. However, the diversity of microbial communities involved in NA-degradation, and the mechanisms by which NAs are biodegraded, are poorly understood. This lack of knowledge is mainly due to the difficulties in identifying and purifying individual carboxylic acid compounds from complex NA mixtures found in the environment, for microbial biodegradation studies. This paper will present an overview of NAs, their origin and fate in the environment, and their toxicity to the biota. The review describes the microbial degradation of both naturally occurring and chemically synthesized NAs. Proposed pathways for aerobic NA biodegradation, factors affecting NA biodegradation rates, and possible bioremediation strategies are also discussed.

Molecular diversity analysis and bacterial population dynamics of an adapted seawater microbiota during the degradation of Tunisian zarzatine oil

The indigenous microbiota of polluted coastal seawater in Tunisia was enriched by increasing the concentration of zarzatine crude oil. The resulting adapted microbiota was incubated with zarzatine crude oil as the only carbon and energy source. Crude oil biodegradation capacity and bacterial population dynamics of the microbiota were evaluated every week for 28 days (day 7, day 14, day 21, and day 28). Results show that the percentage of petroleum degradation was 23.9, 32.1, 65.3, and 77.8%, respectively. At day 28, non-aromatic and aromatic hydrocarbon degradation rates reached 92.6 and 68.7%, respectively. Bacterial composition of the adapted microflora was analysed by 16S rRNA gene cloning and sequencing, using total genomic DNA extracted from the adapted microflora at days 0, 7, 14, 21, and 28. Five clone libraries were constructed and a total of 430 sequences were generated and grouped into OTUs using the ARB software package. Phylogenetic analysis of the adapted microbiota shows the presence of four phylogenetic groups: Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria and Bacteroidetes. Diversity indices show a clear decrease in bacterial diversity of the adapted microflora according to the incubation time. The Proteobacteria are the most predominant (>80%) at day 7, day 14 and day 21 but not at day 28 for which the microbiota was reduced to only one OTU affiliated with the genus Kocuria of the Actinobacteria. This study shows that the degradation of zarzatine crude oil components depends on the activity of a specialized and dynamic seawater consortium composed of different phylogenetic taxa depending on the substrate complexity.

Characterisation of biodegradation capacities of environmental microflorae for diesel oil by comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography

In contaminated soils, efficiency of natural attenuation or engineered bioremediation largely depends on biodegradation capacities of the local microflorae. In the present study, the biodegradation capacities of various microflorae towards diesel oil were determined in laboratory conditions. Microflorae were collected from 9 contaminated and 10 uncontaminated soil samples and were compared to urban wastewater activated sludge. The recalcitrance of hydrocarbons in tests was characterised using both gas chromatography (GC) and comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GCxGC). The microflorae from contaminated soils were found to exhibit higher degradation capacities than those from uncontaminated soil and activated sludge. In cultures inoculated by contaminated-soil microflorae, 80% of diesel oil on an average was consumed over 4-week incubation compared to only 64% in uncontaminated soil and 60% in activated sludge cultures. As shown by GC, n-alkanes of diesel oil were totally utilised by each microflora but differentiated degradation extents were observed for cyclic and branched hydrocarbons. The enhanced degradation capacities of impacted-soil microflorae resulted probably from an adaptation to the hydrocarbon contaminants but a similar adaptation was noted in uncontaminated soils when conifer trees might have released natural hydrocarbons. GCxGC showed that a contaminated-soil microflora removed all aromatics and all branched alkanes containing less than C(15). The most recalcitrant compounds were the branched and cyclic alkanes with 15-23 atoms of carbon.

In situ bioremediation of naphthenic acids contaminated tailing pond waters in the athabasca oil sands region--demonstrated field studies and plausible options: a review

Currently, there are three industrial plants that recover oil from the lower Athabasca oil sands area, and there are plans in the future for several additional mines. The extraction procedures produce large volumes of slurry wastes contaminated with naphthenic acids (NAs). Because of a "zero discharge" policy the oil sands companies do not release any extraction wastes from their leases. The process-affected waters and fluid tailings contaminated with NAs are contained on-site primarily in large settling ponds. These fluid wastes from the tailing ponds can be acutely and chronically toxic to aquatic organisms, and NAs have been associated with this toxicity. The huge tailings containment area must ultimately be reclaimed, and this is of major concern to the oil sands industry. Some reclamation options have been investigated by both pioneering industries (Syncrude Energy Inc. and Suncor Inc.) with mixed results. The bioremediation techniques have limited success to date in biodegrading NAs to levels below 19 mg/L. Some tailing pond waters have been stored for more than 10 years, and it appears that the remaining high molecular weight NAs are refractory to the natural biodegradation process in the ponds. Some plausible options to further degrade the NAs in the tailings pond water include: bioaugmentation with bacteria selected to degrade the more refractory classes of NAs; the use of attachment materials such as clays to concentrate both the NA and the NA-degrading bacteria in their surfaces and/or pores; synergistic association between algae and bacteria consortia to promote efficient aerobic degradation; and biostimulation with nutrients to promote the growth and activity of the microorganisms.

Isolation and characterization of Rhodococcus sp. strains TMP2 and T12 that degrade 2,6,10,14-tetramethylpentadecane (pristane) at moderately low temperatures

Branched alkanes including 2,6,10,14-tetramethylpentadecane (pristane) are more resistant to biological degradation than straight-chain alkanes especially under low-temperature conditions, such as 10 degrees C. Two bacterial strains, TMP2 and T12, that are capable of degrading pristane at 10 degrees C were isolated and characterized. Both strains grew optimally at 30 degrees C and were identified as Rhodococcus sp. based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences. Strain T12 degraded comparable amounts of pristane in a range of temperatures from 10 to 30 degrees C and strain TMP2 degraded pristane similarly at 10 and 20 degrees C but did not degrade it at 30 degrees C. These data suggest that the strains have adapted their pristane degradation system to moderately low-temperature conditions.

Role of alpha-methylacyl coenzyme A racemase in the degradation of methyl-branched alkanes by Mycobacterium sp. strain P101

A new isolate, Mycobacterium sp. strain P101, is capable of growth on methyl-branched alkanes (pristane, phytane, and squalane). Among ca. 10,000 Tn5-derived mutants, we characterized 2 mutants defective in growth on pristane or n-hexadecane. A single copy of Tn5 was found to be inserted into the coding region of mcr (alpha-methylacyl coenzyme A [alpha-methylacyl-CoA] racemase gene) in mutant P1 and into the coding region of mls (malate synthase gene) in mutant H1. Mutant P1 could not grow on methyl-branched alkanes. The recombinant Mcr produced in Escherichia coli was confirmed to catalyze racemization of (R)-2-methylpentadecanoyl-CoA, with a specific activity of 0.21 micromol . min(-1) . mg of protein(-1). Real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR analyses indicated that mcr gene expression was enhanced by the methyl-branched alkanes pristane and squalane. Mutant P1 used (S)-2-methylbutyric acid for growth but did not use the racemic compound, and growth on n-hexadecane was not inhibited by pristane. These results suggested that the oxidation of the methyl-branched alkanoic acid is inhibited by the (R) isomer, although the (R) isomer was not toxic during growth on n-hexadecane. Based on these results, Mcr is suggested to play a critical role in beta-oxidation of methyl-branched alkanes in Mycobacterium. On the other hand, mutant H1 could not grow on n-hexadecane, but it partially retained the ability to grow on pristane. The reduced growth of mutant H1 on pristane suggests that propionyl-CoA is available for cell propagation through the 2-methyl citric acid cycle, since propionyl-CoA is produced through beta-oxidation of pristane.

Biodegradation of hydrocarbon cuts used for diesel oil formulation

The biodegradability of various types of diesel oil (DO), such as straight-run DO, light-cycle DO, hydrocracking DO, Fischer-Tropsch DO and commercial DO, was investigated in biodegradation tests performed in closed-batch systems using two microflorae. The first microflora was an activated sludge from an urban wastewater treatment plant as commonly used in biodegradability tests of commercial products and the second was a microflora from a hydrocarbon-polluted soil with possible specific capacities for hydrocarbon degradation. Kinetics of CO(2) production and extent of DO biodegradation were obtained by chromatographic procedures. Under optimised conditions, the polluted-soil microflora was found to extensively degrade all the DO types tested, the degradation efficiencies being higher than 88%. For all the DOs tested, the biodegradation capacities of the soil microflora were significantly higher than those of the activated sludge. Using both microflora, the extent of biodegradation was highly dependent upon the type of DO used, especially its hydrocarbon composition. Linear alkanes were completely degraded in each test, whereas identifiable branched alkanes such as farnesane, pristane or phytane were degraded to variable extents. Among the aromatics, substituted mono-aromatics were also variably biodegraded.

Alkanindiges illinoisensis gen. nov., sp. nov., an obligately hydrocarbonoclastic, aerobic squalane-degrading bacterium isolated from oilfield soils

An alkane-degrading bacterium, designated GTI MVAB Hex1(T), was isolated from chronically crude oil-contaminated soil from an oilfield in southern Illinois. The isolate grew very weakly or not at all in minimal or rich media without hydrocarbons. Straight-chain aliphatic hydrocarbons, such as hexadecane and heptadecane, greatly stimulated growth; shorter-chain (</=C(15)) hydrocarbons did not (with decane as the sole exception). Growth was also greatly enhanced by the branched aliphatic hydrocarbons pristane and squalane. The latter of these was most intriguing, as catabolism of squalane has hitherto been reported only for Mycobacterium species. Although unable to utilize mono- or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons as sole carbon sources, the isolate did show slight fluorene-mineralizing capability in Luria-Bertani medium, which was partially repressed by hexadecane. In contrast, hexadecane supplementation greatly increased mineralization of (14)C-dodecane, which was not a growth substrate. Further testing emphasized the isolate's extremely narrow substrate range, as only Tween 40 and Tween 80 supported significant growth. Microscopic examination (by scanning and transmission electron microscopy) revealed a slightly polymorphic coccoidal to bacillar morphology, with hydrocarbon-grown cells tending to be more elongated. When grown with hexadecane, GTI MVAB Hex1(T) accumulated a large number of electron-transparent intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies. These were also prevalent during growth in the presence of squalane. Smaller inclusion bodies were observed occasionally with pristane supplementation; they were, however, absent during growth on crude oil. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence data and range of growth substrates, classification of this isolate as the type strain of Alkanindiges illinoisensis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed, which is most closely related (approx. 94 % sequence similarity) to Acinetobacter junii.

Alcanivorax which prevails in oil-contaminated seawater exhibits broad substrate specificity for alkane degradation

Alcanivorax is an alkane-degrading marine bacterium which propagates and becomes predominant in crude-oil-containing seawater when nitrogen and phosphorus nutrients are supplemented. In order to understand why Alcanivorax overcomes other bacteria under such cultural conditions, competition experiments between Alcanivorax indigenous to seawater and the exogenous alkane-degrading marine bacterium, Acinetobacter venetianus strain T4, were conducted. When oil-containing seawater supplemented with nitrogen and phosphorus nutrients was inoculated with A. venetianus strain T4, this bacterium was the dominant population at the early stage of culture. However, its density began to decrease after day 6, and Alcanivorax predominated in the culture after day 20. The crude-oil-degrading profiles of both bacteria were therefore investigated. Alcanivorax borkumensis strain ST-T1 isolated from the Sea of Japan exhibited higher ability to degrade branched alkanes (pristane and phytane) than A. venetianus strain T4. It seems that this higher ability of Alcanivorax to degrade branched alkanes allowed this bacterium to predominate in oil-containing seawater. It is known that some marine zooplanktons produce pristane and Alcanivorax may play a major role in the biodegradation of pristane in seawater.

Biosynthesis of fatty acids and triacylglycerols by 2,6,10,14-tetramethyl pentadecane-grown cells of Nocardia globerula 432

Nocardia globerula strain 432 was able to synthesize triacylglycerols (TAG) during cultivation on 2,6,10,14-tetramethyl pentadecane (pristane) under nitrogen-limiting conditions. Within these cells, 4,8,12-trimethyl tridecanoic acid was the major fatty acid detected. Fatty acids with an odd number of carbon atoms and minor amounts of even-numbered fatty acids were also observed. Experiments carried out with acrylic acid, an inhibitor of beta-oxidation, suggested that odd-numbered fatty acids such as C15:0, C17:0 and 10-methyl C17:0 were synthesized de novo using propionyl-CoA, the beta-oxidation product, as precursor. Although N. globerula 432 incorporated mainly straight chain fatty acids into TAG, the branched fatty acid 4,8,12-trimethyl tridecanoic acid also appeared, to some extent, in the acylglycerols. The importance of TAG biosynthesis by pristane-grown cells of N. globerula strain 432 is discussed.

Candida cloacae oxidation of long-chain fatty acids to dioic acids

Candida cloacae cells oxidize long-chain fatty acids to their corresponding dicarboxylic acids (dioic acids) at rates dependent on their chain length and degree of saturation. This is despite the well-known toxicity of the fatty acids. Among the saturated substrates, the oxidation is limited to lauric acid (C12). The addition of pristane (5% v/v), which acts as an inert carrier for the poorly water-soluble substrate, boosts the oxidation of lauric acid to a rate that is comparable to that of dodecane. When dissolved in pristane, myristic (C14) and palmitic (C16) acids are effective carbon sources for C. cloacae, but dioic acid production is very low. Media glucose concentration and pH also influence cell growth and productivity. After the glucose is depleted, oxidation is optimal at a low pH. A two-phase (pristane/water) reaction was tested in a 2-l stirred tank bioreactor in which growth and oxidation were separated. A 50% w/w conversion of lauric acid (10 g/l) to dodecanedioic acid was achieved. The bioreactor also alleviated poor mass transfer characteristics experienced in shake flasks.

Physiology of aliphatic hydrocarbon-degrading microorganisms

This paper reviews aspects of the physiology and biochemistry of the microbial biodegradation of alkanes larger than methane, alkenes and alkynes with particular emphasis upon recent developments. Subject areas discussed include: substrate uptake; metabolic pathways for alkenes and straight and branched-chain alkanes; the genetics and regulation of pathways; co-oxidation of aliphatic hydrocarbons; the potential for anaerobic aliphatic hydrocarbon degradation; the potential deployment of aliphatic hydrocarbon-degrading microorganisms in biotechnology.

The tumor promoter pristane activates transcription by a cAMP dependent mechanism

Pristane is a naturally occurring isoprenoid which is believed to be derived from the phytyl moiety of chlorophyll. Thus it is not surprising that pristane is present in many common fruits or vegetables and furthermore can be detected in tissues of fish and mammals. Using the rat as an animal model, pristane can function as a potent tumor promoter. It is conceivable that pristane could play a role in the development of certain malignancies in higher mammals since it is commonly found in the diet. At the molecular level, pristane can induce changes in the plasma membrane, alter the conformation of chromatin, as well as selectively activate gene expression. This study was undertaken to identify specific transcriptional motifs which are responsive to pristane. A transcriptional promoter which contained a cAMP response element (CRE) was consistently stimulated by pristane in several mouse and primate cell lines. A promoter construct which contained a single copy of the TPA response element (TRE) was also activated by pristane but surprisingly a promoter which contained multiple copies of the TRE was not. Activation of the TRE required 10 fold higher concentrations of pristane relative to activation of the CRE. Within two hours after addition of pristane to monkey fibroblasts (CV-1) levels of cAMP were increased more than two fold relative to controls. These data indicated that pristane can increase the level of cAMP in CV-1 cells and consequently stimulate transcriptional promoters which contain a CRE.

Disposition and metabolism of pristane in rat

The fate of pristane (2,6,10,14-tetramethylpentadecane), a widespread isoprenoid hydrocarbon, has been studied in rats after a single per os administration of 3H-labeled pristane. The balance study showed an extensive fecal excretion (66%) mainly as unchanged hydrocarbon, whereas about 14% of ingested pristane was excreted in urine as pristane metabolites and tritiated water. After one wk, 8.3% of the ingested 3H still was stored in the carcass, and radioactive distribution in tissues and organs showed a preferential incorporation into adipose tissue and liver. Over 75% of the radioactivity stored in the carcass was associated with pristane metabolites and tritiated water. Tissue metabolites were characterized by thin layer chromatography, gas chromatography and mass spectrometric analyses. Four metabolites were identified: pristan-1-ol, pristane-2-ol, pristanic acid and 4,8,12-trimethyltridecanoic acid. These demonstrate that this isoprenoid hydrocarbon undergoes subterminal hydroxylation or terminal oxidation followed by the classical beta-oxidation process. Incorporation of metabolites in phospholipids and more particularly in the phosphatidylserine fraction has been observed and is discussed.

Use of an internal standard in monitoring the bacterial degradation of crude oil

Hexachloroethane is nonvolatile, insoluble in water, and apparently not toxic to or metabolized by bacteria. Its addition to cultures growing at the expense of crude oil thus provides an internal standard against which the rate of degradation of individual crude oil components can be conveniently and reproducibly measured.

Monocarboxylic acids from oxidation of acyclic isoprenoid alkanes by Mycobacterium fortuitum

Mycobacterium fortuitum utilizes certain stereoisometric mixtures of individual multimethyl branched alkanes as sole carbon source, including 2,6(R), 10(S), 14(RS)-tetramethylhexadecane; 2.6(R), 10(S), 14(RS)-tetramethylheptadecane; 2,6(RS), 10(RS)-trimethyltetradecane, and 2,6(R), 10(S)-trimethylpentadecane. Products of oxidation isolated from the bacterial lipids were acids derived predominantly from oxidation of the isopropyl terminus of each alkane, except in the case of 2,6(RS), 10(RS)-trimethyltetradecane. With the latter, acids from oxidation at either terminus were detected in comparable proportions.

Hydrocarbon metabolism by Brevibacterium erythrogenes: normal and branched alkanes

Branched- and straight-chain alkanes are metabolized by Brevibacterium erythrogenes by means of two distinct pathways. Normal alkanes (e.g., n-pentadecane) are degraded, after terminal oxidation, by the beta-oxidation system operational in fatty acid catabolism. Branched alkanes like pristane (2,6,10,14-tetramethylpentadecane) and 2-methylundecane are degraded as dicarboxylic acids, which also undergo beta-oxidation. Pristane-derived intermediates are observed to accumulate, with time, as a series of dicarboxylic acids. This dicarboxylic acid pathway is not observed in the presence of normal alkanes. Release of (14)CO(2) from [1-(14)C]pristane is delayed, or entirely inhibited, in the presence of n-hexadecane, whereas CO(2) release from n-hexadecane remains unaffected. These results suggest an inducible dicarboxylic acid pathway for degradation of branched-chain alkanes.

Microbial utilization of crude oil

The utilization of two crude oil samples of different quality at 4 and 30 C has been studied by using pure and mixed bacterial cultures obtained by enrichment procedures. Growth, emulsification, and utilization occurred readily at both temperatures. The crude oil residue is increased in specific gravity and readily sediments out of solution. A comparison of the chemical analysis of the oils by liquid and gas-liquid chromatographic procedures before and after growth showed that the n-saturate fraction had been preferentially used. Some utilization of the aromatic fraction also occurred. Enrichments obtained with a high-quality crude oil were not as effective in utilizing a lower quality crude oil as sole carbon source as a population enriched on the low-quality crude oil.