Microbial oxidation and assimilation of propylene

Metabolism of 2-methylpropene (isobutylene) by the aerobic bacterium Mycobacterium sp. strain ELW1

An aerobic bacterium (Mycobacterium sp. strain ELW1) that utilizes 2-methylpropene (isobutylene) as a sole source of carbon and energy was isolated and characterized. Strain ELW1 grew on 2-methylpropene (growth rate = 0.05 h(-1)) with a yield of 0.38 mg (dry weight) mg 2-methylpropene(-1). Strain ELW1 also grew more slowly on both cis- and trans-2-butene but did not grow on any other C2 to C5 straight-chain, branched, or chlorinated alkenes tested. Resting 2-methylpropene-grown cells consumed ethene, propene, and 1-butene without a lag phase. Epoxyethane accumulated as the only detected product of ethene oxidation. Both alkene consumption and epoxyethane production were fully inhibited in cells exposed to 1-octyne, suggesting that alkene oxidation is initiated by an alkyne-sensitive, epoxide-generating monooxygenase. Kinetic analyses indicated that 1,2-epoxy-2-methylpropane is rapidly consumed during 2-methylpropene degradation, while 2-methyl-2-propen-1-ol is not a significant metabolite of 2-methylpropene catabolism. Degradation of 1,2-epoxy-2-methylpropane by 2-methylpropene-grown cells led to the accumulation and further degradation of 2-methyl-1,2-propanediol and 2-hydroxyisobutyrate, two sequential metabolites previously identified in the aerobic microbial metabolism of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) and tert-butyl alcohol (TBA). Growth of strain ELW1 on 2-methylpropene, 1,2-epoxy-2-methylpropane, 2-methyl-1,2-propanediol, and 2-hydroxyisobutyrate was fully inhibited when cobalt ions were omitted from the growth medium, while growth on 3-hydroxybutyrate and other substrates was unaffected by the absence of added cobalt ions. Our results suggest that, like aerobic MTBE- and TBA-metabolizing bacteria, strain ELW1 utilizes a cobalt/cobalamin-dependent mutase to transform 2-hydroxyisobutyrate. Our results have been interpreted in terms of their impact on our understanding of the microbial metabolism of alkenes and ether oxygenates.

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

Mycobacterium vanbaalenii PYR-1 is capable of degrading polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) to ring cleavage metabolites. This study identified and characterized a putative phthalate degradation operon in the M. vanbaalenii PYR-1 genome. A putative regulatory protein (phtR) was encoded divergently with five tandem genes: phthalate dioxygenase large subunit (phtAa), small subunit (phtAb), phthalate dihydrodiol dehydrogenase (phtB), phthalate dioxygenase ferredoxin subunit (phtAc) and phthalate dioxygenase ferredoxin reductase (phtAd). A 6.7 kb EcoRI fragment containing these genes was cloned into Escherichia coli and converted phthalate to 3,4-dihydroxyphthalate. Homologues to the operon region were detected in a number of PAH-degrading Mycobacterium spp. isolated from various geographical locations. The operon differs from those of other Gram-positive bacteria in both the placement and orientation of the regulatory gene. In addition, the M. vanbaalenii PYR-1 pht operon contains no decarboxylase gene and none was identified within a 37 kb region containing the operon. This study is the first report of a phthalate degradation operon in Mycobacterium spp.

Molecular characterization of dioxygenases from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-degrading Mycobacterium spp

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-degrading genes nidA and nidB that encode the alpha and beta subunits of the aromatic ring-hydroxylating dioxygenase have been cloned and sequenced from Mycobacterium vanbaalenii PYR-1 [Khan et al., Appl. Environ Microbiol. 67 (2001) 3577-3585]. In this study, the presence of nidA and nidB in 12 other Mycobacterium or Rhodococcus strains was investigated. Initially, all strains were screened for their ability to degrade PAHs by a spray plate method, and for the presence of the dioxygenase Rieske center region by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Only Mycobacterium sp. PAH 2.135 (RJGII-135), M. flavescens PYR-GCK (ATCC 700033), M. gilvum BB1 (DSM 9487) and M. frederiksbergense FAn9T (DSM 44346), all previously known PAH degraders, were positive in both tests. From the three positive strains, complete open reading frames of the nidA and nidB genes were amplified by PCR, using primers designed according to the known nidA and nidB sequences from PYR-1, cloned in the pBAD/Thio-TOPO vector and sequenced. The sequences showed >98% identity with the M. vanbaalenii PYR-1 nidA and nidB genes. Southern DNA-DNA hybridization using nidA and nidB probes from PYR-1 revealed that there is more than one copy of nidA and nidB genes in the strains PYR-1, BB1, PYR-GCK and FAn9T. However, only one copy of each gene was observed in PAH2.135.

A GTP-dependent vertebrate-type phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase from Mycobacterium smegmatis

This is the first report on a bacterial verterbrate-type GTP-dependent phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PCK). The pck gene of Mycobacterium smegmatis was cloned. The recombinant PCK was overexpressed in Escherichia coli in a soluble form and with high activity. The purified enzyme was found to be monomeric (72 kDa), thermophilic (optimum temperature, 70 degrees C), very stable upon storage at 4 degrees C, stimulated by thiol-containing reducing agents, and inhibited by oxalate and by alpha-ketoglutarate. The requirement for a divalent cation for activity was fulfilled best by Mn(2+) and Co(2+) and poorly by Mg(2+). At 37 degrees C, the highest V(m) value (32.5 units/mg) was recorded with Mn(2+) and in the presence of 37 mm dithiothreitol (DTT). The presence of Mg(2+) (2 mm) greatly lowered the apparent K(m) values for Mn(2+) (by 144-fold in the presence of DTT and by 9.4-fold in the absence of DTT) and Co(2+) (by 230-fold). In the absence of DTT but in the presence of Mg(2+) (2 mm) as the co-divalent cation, Co(2+) was 21-fold more efficient than Mn(2+). For producing oxaloacetate, the enzyme utilized both GDP and IDP; ADP served very poorly. The apparent K(m) values for phosphoenolpyruvate, GDP, and bicarbonate were >100, 66, and 8300 micrometer, respectively, whereas those for GTP and oxaloacetate (for the phosphoenolpyruvate formation activity) were 13 and 12 microm, respectively. Thus, this enzyme preferred the gluconeogenesis/glycerogenesis direction. This property fits the suggestion that in M. smegmatis, pyruvate carboxylase is not anaplerotic but rather gluconeogenic (Mukhopadhyay, B., and Purwantini, E. (2000) Biochim. Biophys. Acta. 1475, 191-206). Both in primary structure and kinetic properties, the mycobacterial PCK was very similar to its vertebrate-liver counterparts and thus could serve as a model for these enzymes; examples for several immediate targets are presented.

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.

Oxidation of Gaseous and Volatile Hydrocarbons by Selected Alkene-Utilizing Bacteria

Eleven strains of alkene-utilizing bacteria belonging to the genera Mycobacterium, Nocardia, and Xanthobacter were tested for their ability to grow with C 1 to C 6 alkanes, C 2 to C 6 alkenes, alkadienes, and monoterpenes furnished individually as sole sources of carbon and energy in a mineral salts medium. A limited number of alkenes and alkanes supported growth of the bacteria; some bacteria were unable to grow on any of the saturated hydrocarbons tested. Monoterpenes were frequently used as carbon and energy sources by alkene-utilizing bacteria belonging to the genera Mycobacterium and Nocardia. Washed cell suspensions of alkene-grown bacteria attacked the whole range of alkenes tested, whereas only three strains were able to oxidize alkanes as well. The alkenes tested were oxidized either to water and carbon dioxide or to epoxyalkanes. Few epoxides accumulated in stoichiometric amounts from the corresponding alkenes, because most epoxides formed were further converted to other compounds like alkanediols.