一株PCBs降解菌的降解特性及发酵条件优化

【目的】针对一株多氯联苯的高效降解菌,考察其对多氯联苯(PCBs)的降解特性,并对降解条件进行优化。【方法】以不同浓度的2,4,4′-TCB与3,3′,4,4′-TCB为唯一碳源,研究苜蓿中华根瘤菌(Sinorhizobium melilon)对不同多氯联苯的降解转化能力,并进行发酵条件优化以及共代谢试验。【结果】接入菌株转化7 d后,随着底物浓度的增加,该菌对2,4,4′-TCB的降解能力呈下降趋势。在最低浓度1.0 mg/L时降解率最高,为93.3%;而在最高浓度50.0 mg/L时为65.1%。对于较难降解的四氯联苯3,3′,4,4′-TCB,菌株在最低浓度1.0 mg/L时降解率为56.2%,最高浓度25.0 mg/L时为22.8%。在温度30°C、pH 7.0、接种量4.5 mL、装液量25 mL时,获得菌株转化10.0 mg/L 2,4,4′-TCB的最优发酵条件,7 d的降解率由原来的54.8%提高到83.6%。柠檬烯、香芹酮及甘露醇作为共代谢底物也可较好地提高菌株降解效果。【结论】苜蓿中华根瘤菌对PCBs有很好的降解效果,研究结果对PCBs的微生物降解及环境中PCBs的生物修复具有较好的意义和应用价值。     

多氯联苯的生物修复

多氯联苯(Polychlorinated biphenyls,PCBs)是一种持久性有机污染物,对人类和自然环境具有很大的威胁,降解PCBs一直是研究的热点。在目前的研究方法中生物降解最具潜力,生物降解主要分为微生物降解、植物修复和微生物-植物共同修复3个方面。文章着重介绍了微生物降解PCBs菌株的分离,降解相关基因的克隆和改造;同时对植物修复,植物与微生物共同修复以及植物转基因修复进行了讨论。     

二硝基苯胺类除草剂微生物降解研究进展

二硝基苯胺类除草剂是一类广谱、高效且广泛使用的除草剂,微生物的降解代谢作用是其在环境中消解的最主要因素。分离筛选除草剂的高效降解菌株、分析其降解途径并阐明其微生物降解机制,可为除草剂残留污染的微生物降解修复提供理论依据和优良的降解菌株、降解基因和酶资源。本文简述了二硝基苯胺类除草剂的微生物降解菌株、降解代谢途径和降解基因/酶的研究进展,为进一步研究该类除草剂的微生物降解及其污染生物修复提供理论依据和资源。     

微生物代谢环境难降解性有机物的酶学研究进展

随着人类社会的快速发展,工业化水平不断提高,产生大量的污染物并排放到环境中,给人类的生活和身体健康造成了严重的影响。这些污染物中包含种类繁多的难降解有机物,如多芳香烃(PAHs)、环硝胺类物质(RDX、HMX和CL-20)、多氯联苯(PCBs)及烷烃类化合物等,对自然界的污染危害大。微生物可以消除它们对污染的影响,研究结果表明微生物的代谢或共代谢活动是降解这些物质的有效途径,降解起始阶段需要一些关键酶的参与活动,以氧化还原酶为主。这些氧化还原酶一般与细胞膜上其他的活性组分在一起,形成一个氧化还原系统氧化底物。被氧化的中间物质再通过一系列酶催化继续氧化成三羧酸中间代谢产物被微生物所利用。以下综述了与这些物质降解相关的代谢途径和关键的酶,展望今后在开展这类研究工作时要加强降解微生物的筛选和相关酶学的研究,进一步研究这些污染物的代谢或共代谢途径和机理,为工程化治理环境污染提供依据。     

植物修复多氯联苯研究进展

综述了植物修复持久性有机污染物多氯联苯（PCBs）的研究进展,重点阐述了植物对PCBs的去除作用和机理,植物在从环境中去除PCBs的过程中,不仅仅是作为微生物降解的支持者,而且还作为积极的参与者对PCBs进行代谢：一方面植物通过根系从环境中吸收和积累PCBs,并将吸收的PCBs转化为非毒性的代谢产物累积于植物组织中;另一方面植物释放促进PCBs降解的酶直接降解PCBs,或释放根系分泌物,增加根际微生物的数量,提高其活性间接降解PCBs.文中对植物修复PCBs的影响因素如植物组织培养的类型、生物量、PCBs的初始浓度以及PCBs的类型、理化性质等进行了讨论.     

深渊来源Citricoccus sp.strain NyZ702的分离培养及其降解4-羟基苯甲酸的特性

【背景】深渊沉积物中存在丰富的微生物细胞和活跃的微生物碳周转,因此,分离培养微生物资源对于认识深渊中的物质循环、能量代谢具有重要意义。芳香化合物在环境中广泛存在,基于组学分析揭示了深渊中具有潜在的芳香化合物代谢菌株,然而深渊来源的芳香化合物降解微生物纯培养和相关的代谢机理研究仍然缺乏。【目的】从马里亚纳海沟沉积物样本中分离培养具有降解芳香化合物能力的微生物,对其代谢途径、中间产物和降解酶活力进行初步鉴定。【方法】以4-羟基苯甲酸为唯一碳源对马里亚纳海沟沉积物样本中的降解菌株进行分离培养,结合形态观察、16S rRNA基因扩增与序列分析对菌株进行鉴定,通过底物生长实验验证其降解能力,通过高效液相色谱和超高效液相色谱-飞行时间质谱联用仪初步鉴定全细胞生物转化中间产物,利用紫外分光光度计测定其粗酶液催化4-羟基苯甲酸的活力,进而推测菌株降解4-羟基苯甲酸的代谢途径。【结果】从深渊沉积物中分离培养获得一株好氧细菌,16SrRNA基因序列分析显示该菌株隶属于柠檬球菌属(Citricoccus),命名为Citricoccus sp. strain NyZ702。该菌株在LB固体培养基上经30°C培养4 d后呈柠檬黄色、不透明、表面光滑、边缘整齐、凸出于培养基表面、直径约为1-2 mm的圆形菌落。扫描电镜表明菌体呈球形,直径为0.4-0.6μm,无鞭毛结构。该菌株为耐盐菌,最适生长盐浓度范围为2%-8%(质量体积分数)。该菌株可利用4-羟基苯甲酸为唯一碳源进行生长,可转化4-羟基苯甲酸至中间产物原儿茶酸,推测该菌株通过原儿茶酸途径降解4-羟基苯甲酸。菌株NyZ702的粗酶液具有4-羟基苯甲酸单加氧酶活力,对4-羟基苯甲酸的催化反应需要还原型烟酰胺腺嘌呤二核苷酸磷酸(NADPH)作为辅因子。【结论】从深渊沉积物样本分离得到一株4-羟基苯甲酸降解菌Citricoccus sp. strain NyZ702,该菌株以原儿茶酸为中间代谢产物降解4-羟基苯甲酸,丰富了深渊来源的微生物菌种资源,为深渊中的芳香化合物降解研究提供了一定的理论基础。     

细菌降解萘、菲的代谢途径及相关基因的研究进展

多环芳烃(Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons,PAHs)是一类在环境中广泛存在的具有毒性的污染物,微生物降解是其在自然界中降解的主要途径,因而尤为重要。随着研究的深入,关于微生物降解PAHs的分子降解机制、途径等的认识逐渐积累。以下对细菌降解萘、菲的研究进展进行了概述,介绍了萘的水杨酸降解途径,菲的水杨酸、邻苯二甲酸及其他降解途径,同时也包括降解过程中涉及的降解基因簇,如nah-like、phn、phd、nid和nag等以及细菌在PAHs胁迫条件下其他相关基因的表达与调节等方面的最新进展。这些进展可为降解菌株的分子及遗传机制研究提供理论依据,将促进通过基因工程优化降解菌、更有效地检测PAHs环境污染及实现PAHs污染的生物修复。     

多氯联苯降解菌的筛选、鉴定及其降解特性研究

以联苯为唯一碳源和能源从河海交汇处筛选、分离得到一株多氯联苯降解菌,研究其多氯联苯降解特性。以联苯(BPH)和4-一氯联苯(PCB3)为底物,探究假单胞菌属(Pseudomonas sp.)P-6-5的生长情况及降解能力。降解菌最适生长pH为7,盐度为35 g/L。以BPH和PCB3为诱导剂,均能促进降解菌的生长。P-6-5对10-100 mg/L的PCB3存在不同程度的转化能力,对浓度为10 mg/L的PCB3降解率达95.3%,最大降解速率1.9 mg/(L·h)。P-6-5对mix13(13种多氯联苯的同系物)中的四氯及四氯以下多氯联苯均有降解能力。结合产物分析,推测降解菌可能具有矿化PCB3的能力。菌株P-6-5具有海水菌的特点,表现了宽广的底物利用范围,是一株高效PCBs降解菌,对环境中PCBs的生物修复具有重要意义。     

生物技术方法生产香草醛研究进展

香草醛是重要的香味物质之一,广泛应用于食品、饮料和医药工业中。本文综述了生物技术方法生产香草醛常用的前体物质、所用微生物降解相应前体物质的代谢途径、对代谢途径中的酶进行的分子水平和基因水平的研究以及在转化工艺等方面的研究进展。     

联苯培养条件下红球菌R04转录表达和苯甲酸代谢途径解析

摘要:【目的】研究不同碳源,特别是联苯条件下红球菌的细胞转录应答,以挖掘与多氯联苯(PCBs)转运、代谢及其调控相关的基因,为进一步全面理解PCB微生物降解的分子机制奠定基础。【方法】以一株多氯联苯降解菌红球菌(Rhodococcus sp.R04)为材料,分别提取不同碳源(乙醇、葡萄糖和联苯)培养条件下菌体的总RNA,反转录合成cDNA。采用高通量测序法分别对这三种样品进行转录组测序,分析测序数据得出全基因组表达模式,并对不同条件下的基因表达进行差示分析,进而对联苯代谢网络和红球菌中其他基因的转录调节和代谢应答反应做出相关性分析。Q-RT-PCR分析不同碳源培养条件下的基因表达情况。【结果】测序结果表明,与葡萄糖和乙醇相比,联苯培养条件下明显上调(log2 Ratio 1)基因个数分别为375和332个。与葡萄糖相比,联苯培养条件下,相关基因上调表达量与Q-RT-PCR实验结果基本一致。功能分类获得细胞组分、分子功能和生物学过程三大类别160多个细小分支的差示表达基因,部分基因参与联苯代谢转录调控、联苯转运、抗氧化应激反应以及信号传导通路系统等多种生理过程。参与联苯上游代谢途径的众多同工酶基因中,只有bphC2和bphD1在联苯中大量上调表达,其余同工酶在联苯中基本量不变或下调表达。转录组注释及差示分析推测,红球菌R04中苯甲酸的代谢主要是通过儿茶酚邻位途径、间位途径以及原儿茶酸途径三条代谢途径完成。【结论】与葡萄糖和乙醇相比,红球菌R04在联苯培养条件下基因表达差异明显,这为我们进一步解析多氯联苯代谢特征和代谢调控提供理论依据。     

Bacterial metabolism of polychlorinated biphenyls

Microbial metabolism is responsible for the removal of persistent organic pollutants including PCBs from the environment. Anaerobic dehalogenation of highly chlorinated congeners in aquatic sediments is an important process, and recent evidence has indicated that Dehalococcoides and related organisms are predominantly responsible for this process. Such anaerobic dehalogenation generates lower chlorinated congeners which are easily degraded aerobically by enzymes of the biphenyl upper pathway (bph). Initial biphenyl 2,3-dioxygenases are generally considered the key enzymes of this pathway which determine substrate range and extent of PCB degradation. These enzymes have been subject to different protein evolution strategies, and subsequent enzymes have been considered as crucial for metabolism. Significant advances have been made regarding the mechanistic understanding of these enzymes, which has also included elucidation of the function of BphK glutathione transferase. So far, the genomes of two important PCB-metabolizing organisms, namely Burkholderia xenovorans strain LB400 and Rhodococcus sp. strain RHA1, have been sequenced, with the rational to better understand their overall physiology and evolution. Genomic and proteomic analysis also allowed a better evaluation of PCB toxicity. Like all bph gene clusters which have been characterized in detail, particularly in strains LB400 and RHA1, these genes were localized on mobile genetic elements endowing single strains and microbial communities with a high flexibility and adaptability. However, studies show that our knowledge on enzymes and genes involved in PCB metabolism is still rather fragmentary and that the diversity of bacterial strategies is highly underestimated. Overall, metabolism of biphenyl and PCBs should not be regarded as a simple linear pathway, but as a complex interplay between different catabolic gene modules.     

Coping with polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) toxicity: Physiological and genome-wide responses of Burkholderia xenovorans LB400 to PCB-mediated stress

The biodegradation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) relies on the ability of aerobic microorganisms such as Burkholderia xenovorans sp. LB400 to tolerate two potential modes of toxicity presented by PCB degradation: passive toxicity, as hydrophobic PCBs potentially disrupt membrane and protein function, and degradation-dependent toxicity from intermediates of incomplete degradation. We monitored the physiological characteristics and genome-wide expression patterns of LB400 in response to the presence of Aroclor 1242 (500 ppm) under low expression of the structural biphenyl pathway (succinate and benzoate growth) and under induction by biphenyl. We found no inhibition of growth or change in fatty acid profile due to PCBs under nondegrading conditions. Moreover, we observed no differential gene expression due to PCBs themselves. However, PCBs did have a slight effect on the biosurface area of LB400 cells and caused slight membrane separation. Upon activation of the biphenyl pathway, we found growth inhibition from PCBs beginning after exponential-phase growth suggestive of the accumulation of toxic compounds. Genome-wide expression profiling revealed 47 differentially expressed genes (0.56% of all genes) under these conditions. The biphenyl and catechol pathways were induced as expected, but the quinoprotein methanol metabolic pathway and a putative chloroacetaldehyde dehydrogenase were also highly expressed. As the latter protein is essential to conversion of toxic metabolites in dichloroethane degradation, it may play a similar role in the degradation of chlorinated aliphatic compounds resulting from PCB degradation.     

Coping with Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB) Toxicity: Physiological and Genome-Wide Responses of Burkholderia xenovorans LB400 to PCB-Mediated Stress

The biodegradation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) relies on the ability of aerobic microorganisms such as Burkholderia xenovorans sp. LB400 to tolerate two potential modes of toxicity presented by PCB degradation: passive toxicity, as hydrophobic PCBs potentially disrupt membrane and protein function, and degradation-dependent toxicity from intermediates of incomplete degradation. We monitored the physiological characteristics and genome-wide expression patterns of LB400 in response to the presence of Aroclor 1242 (500 ppm) under low expression of the structural biphenyl pathway (succinate and benzoate growth) and under induction by biphenyl. We found no inhibition of growth or change in fatty acid profile due to PCBs under nondegrading conditions. Moreover, we observed no differential gene expression due to PCBs themselves. However, PCBs did have a slight effect on the biosurface area of LB400 cells and caused slight membrane separation. Upon activation of the biphenyl pathway, we found growth inhibition from PCBs beginning after exponential-phase growth suggestive of the accumulation of toxic compounds. Genome-wide expression profiling revealed 47 differentially expressed genes (0.56% of all genes) under these conditions. The biphenyl and catechol pathways were induced as expected, but the quinoprotein methanol metabolic pathway and a putative chloroacetaldehyde dehydrogenase were also highly expressed. As the latter protein is essential to conversion of toxic metabolites in dichloroethane degradation, it may play a similar role in the degradation of chlorinated aliphatic compounds resulting from PCB degradation.     

Transformation of polychlorinated biphenyls by a novel BphA variant through the meta-cleavage pathway

The transformation of 20 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) through the meta-cleavage pathway by recombinant Escherichia coli cells expressing the bphEFGBC locus from Burkholderia cepacia LB400 and the bphA genes from different sources was compared. The analysis of PCB congeners for which hydroxylation was observed but no formation of the corresponding yellow meta-cleavage product demonstrated that only lightly chlorinated congeners including one tetrachlorobiphenyl (2,2',4,4'-CB) were transformed into their corresponding yellow meta-cleavage products. Although many other tetrachlorobiphenyls (2, 2',5,5'-CB, 2,2',3,5'-CB, 2,4,4',5-CB, 2,3',4',5-CB, 2,3',4,4'-CB) and one pentachlorobiphenyl (2,2',4,5,5'-CB) tested were depleted from resting cell suspensions, no yellow meta-cleavage products were observed. For most of these congeners, dihydrodiol compounds accumulated as the endproducts, indicating that the bphB-encoded biphenyl-2,3-dihydrodiol-2,3-dehydrogenase is a key limiting step for further degradation of highly chlorinated congeners. These results suggest that engineering the biphenyl dioxygenase alone is insufficient for an improved removal of PCB. Rather, improved degradation of PCBs is more likely to be achieved with recombinant strains containing metabolic pathways not only specifically engineered for expanding the initial dioxygenation but also for the mineralization of PCBs.     

Enhanced biodegradation of polychlorinated biphenyls after site-directed mutagenesis of a biphenyl dioxygenase gene.

Biphenyl dioxygenase catalyzes the first step in the aerobic degradation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). The nucleotide and amino acid sequences of the biphenyl dioxygenases from two PCB-degrading strains (Pseudomonas sp. strain LB400 and Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes KF707) were compared. The sequences were found to be nearly identical, yet these enzymes exhibited dramatically different substrate specificities for PCBs. Site-directed mutagenesis of the LB400 bphA gene resulted in an enzyme combining the broad congener specificity of LB400 with increased activity against several congeners characteristic of KF707. These data strongly suggest that the BphA subunit of biphenyl dioxygenase plays an important role in determining substrate selectivity. Further alteration of this enzyme can be used to develop a greater understanding of the structural basis for congener specificity and to broaden the range of degradable PCB congeners.     

Tuning biphenyl dioxygenase for extended substrate specificity.

Highly substituted polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are known to be very resistant to aerobic biodegradation, particularly the initial attack by biphenyl dioxygenase. Functional evolution of the substrate specificity of biphenyl dioxygenase was demonstrated by DNA shuffling and staggered extension process (StEP) of the bphA gene coding for the large subunit of biphenyl dioxygenase. Several variants with an extended substrate range for PCBs were selected. In contrast to the parental biphenyl dioxygenases from Burkholderia cepacia LB400 and Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes KF707, which preferentially recognize either ortho- (LB400) or para- (KF707) substituted PCBs, several variants degraded both congeners to about the same extent. These variants also exhibited superior degradation capabilities toward several tetra- and pentachlorinated PCBs as well as commercial PCB mixtures, such as Aroclor 1242 or Aroclor 1254. Sequence analysis confirmed that most variants contained at least four to six template switches. All desired variants contained the Thr335Ala and Phe336Ile substitutions confirming the importance of this critical region in substrate specificity. These results suggest that the block-exchange nature of gene shuffling between a diverse class of dioxygenases may be the most useful approach for breeding novel dioxygenases for PCB degradation in the desired direction.     

Antioxidant compounds improved PCB-degradation by Burkholderia xenovorans strain LB400

Polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs) are toxic and persistent organic pollutants that are widely distributed in the environment. Burkholderia xenovorans LB400 is capable of degrading aerobically an unusually wide range of PCBs. However, during PCB-degradation B. xenovorans LB400 generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) that affect its viability. The aim of this study was to increase the efficiency of PCB-degradation of B. xenovorans LB400 by adding antioxidant compounds that could increase tolerance to oxidative stress. The effect of antioxidant compounds on the growth, morphology and PCB-degradation by B. xenovorans LB400 was evaluated. α-Tocopherol or vitamin E (vitE) and berry extract (BE) increased slightly the growth of strain LB400 on biphenyl, whereas in presence of ascorbic acid or vitamin C (vitC) an inhibition of growth was observed. The growth of B. xenovorans LB400 in glucose was inhibited by the addition of 4-chlorobiphenyl (4-CB). Interestingly, in presence of α-tocopherol the growth of strain LB400 was less affected by 4-CB. By transmission electronic microscopy it was observed that α-tocopherol preserved the cell membranes and improved cell integrity of glucose-grown LB400 cells exposed to 4-CB, suggesting a protective effect of α-tocopherol. Notably, α-tocopherol increased biphenyl and 4-CB degradation by B. xenovorans LB400 in an aqueous solution. The effect of antioxidants compounds on PCB-bioremediation was evaluated in agricultural soil spiked with 2-chlorobiphenyl (2-CB), 4-CB and 2,4'-chlorobiphenyl (2,4'-CB). For bioaugmentation, LB400 cells grown on biphenyl and subsequently incubated with pyruvate were added to the soil. Native soil microbiota was able to remove PCBs. Bioaugmentation with strain LB400 increased strongly the PCB-degradation rate. Bioaugmentation with strain LB400 and biostimulation with α-tocopherol or berry extract increased further the PCB degradation. Half-life of 2,4'-CB decreased by bioaugmentation from 24 days to 4 days and by bioaugmentation in presence of α-tocopherol and berry extract to 2 days. By bioaugmentation with strain LB400, 85% of 2,4'-CB was degraded in 20 days, whereas bioaugmentation with strain LB400 and biostimulation with α-tocopherol or berry extract reduced the time to less than 13 days. This indicates that antioxidant compounds stimulated PCB-degradation in soil. Therefore, the addition of antioxidant compounds constitutes an attractive strategy for the scale-up of aerobic PCB-bioremediation processes.     

Cloning and expression in Escherichia coli of Pseudomonas strain LB400 genes encoding polychlorinated biphenyl degradation.

Pseudomonas strain LB400 is able to degrade an unusually wide variety of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). A genomic library of LB400 was constructed by using the broad-host-range cosmid pMMB34 and introduced into Escherichia coli. Approximately 1,600 recombinant clones were tested, and 5 that expressed 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl dioxygenase activity were found. This enzyme is encoded by the bphC gene of the 2,3-dioxygenase pathway for PCB-biphenyl metabolism. Two recombinant plasmids encoding the ability to transform PCBs to chlorobenzoic acids were identified, and one of these, pGEM410, was chosen for further study. The PCB-degrading genes (bphA, -B, -C, and -D) were localized by subcloning experiments to a 12.4-kilobase region of pGEM410. The ability of recombinant strains to degrade PCBs was compared with that of the wild type. In resting-cell assays, PCB degradation by E. coli strain FM4560 (containing a pGEM410 derivative) approached that of LB400 and was significantly greater than degradation by the original recombinant strain. High levels of PCB metabolism by FM4560 did not depend on the growth of the organism on biphenyl, as it did for PCB metabolism by LB400. When cells were grown with succinate as the carbon source, PCB degradation by FM4560 was markedly superior to that by LB400.     

Metabolism of chlorobiphenyls by a variant biphenyl dioxygenase exhibiting enhanced activity toward dibenzofuran

The biphenyl dioxygenase of Burkholderia xenovorans LB400 (BphAE(LB400)) catalyzes the dihydroxylation of biphenyl and of several polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) but it poorly oxidizes dibenzofuran. In this work we showed that BphAE(RR41), a variant which was previously found to metabolize dibenzofuran more efficiently than its parent BphAE(LB400), metabolized a broader range of PCBs than BphAE(LB400). Hence, BphAE(RR41) was able to metabolize 2,6,2',6'-, 3,4,3',5'- and 2,4,3',4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl that BphAE(LB400) is unable to metabolize. BphAE(RR41) was obtained by changing Thr335Phe336Asn338Ile341Leu409 of BphAE(LB400) to Ala335Met336Gln338Val341Phe409. Site-directed mutagenesis was used to create combinations of each substitution, in order to assess their individual contributions. Data show that the same Asn338Glu/Leu409Phe substitution that enhanced the ability to metabolize dibenzofuran resulted in a broadening of the PCB substrates range of the enzyme. The role of these substitutions on regiospecificities toward selected PCBs is also discussed.