Proteomics and Metabolomics Analyses to Elucidate the Desulfurization Pathway of Chelatococcus sp.

Desulfurization of dibenzothiophene (DBT) and alkylated DBT derivatives present in transport fuel through specific cleavage of carbon-sulfur (C-S) bonds by a newly isolated bacterium Chelatococcus sp. is reported for the first time. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of the products of DBT degradation by Chelatococcus sp. showed the transient formation of 2-hydroxybiphenyl (2-HBP) which was subsequently converted to 2-methoxybiphenyl (2-MBP) by methylation at the hydroxyl group of 2-HBP. The relative ratio of 2-HBP and 2-MBP formed after 96 h of bacterial growth was determined at 4:1 suggesting partial conversion of 2-HBP or rapid degradation of 2-MBP. Nevertheless, the enzyme involved in this conversion process remains to be identified. This production of 2-MBP rather than 2-HBP from DBT desulfurization has a significant metabolic advantage for enhancing the growth and sulfur utilization from DBT by Chelatococcus sp. and it also reduces the environmental pollution by 2-HBP. Furthermore, desulfurization of DBT derivatives such as 4-M-DBT and 4, 6-DM-DBT by Chelatococcus sp. resulted in formation of 2-hydroxy-3-methyl-biphenyl and 2-hydroxy –3, 3^/- dimethyl-biphenyl, respectively as end product. The GC and X-ray fluorescence studies revealed that Chelatococcus sp. after 24 h of treatment at 37°C reduced the total sulfur content of diesel fuel by 12% by per gram resting cells, without compromising the quality of fuel. The LC-MS/MS analysis of tryptic digested intracellular proteins of Chelatococcus sp. when grown in DBT demonstrated the biosynthesis of 4S pathway desulfurizing enzymes viz. monoxygenases (DszC, DszA), desulfinase (DszB), and an NADH-dependent flavin reductase (DszD). Besides, several other intracellular proteins of Chelatococcus sp. having diverse biological functions were also identified by LC-MS/MS analysis. Many of these enzymes are directly involved with desulfurization process whereas the other enzymes/proteins support growth of bacteria at an expense of DBT. These combined results suggest that Chelatococcus sp. prefers sulfur-specific extended 4S pathway for deep-desulphurization which may have an advantage for its intended future application as a promising biodesulfurizing agent.     

Biodesulfurization of dibenzothiophene by a newly isolated Rhodococcus erythropolis strain

A new dibenzothiophene (DBT) desulfurizing bacterium was isolated from oil-contaminated soils in Iran. HPLC analysis and PCR-based detection of the presence of the DBT desulfurization genes (dszA, dszB and dszC) indicate that this strain converts DBT to 2-hydroxybiphenyl (2-HBP) via the 4S pathway. The strain, identified as Rhodococcus erythropolis SHT87, can utilize DBT, dibenzothiophene sulfone, thiophene, 2-methylthiophene and dimethylsulfoxide as a sole sulfur source for growth at 30 °C.The maximum specific desulfurization activity of strain SHT87 resting cells in aqueous and biphasic organic–aqueous systems at 30 °C was determined to be 0.36 and 0.47 μmol 2-HBP min⁻¹ (g dry cell)⁻¹, respectively. Three mM DBT was completely metabolized by SHT87 resting cells in the aqueous and biphasic systems within 10 h. The rate and the extent of the desulfurization reaction by strain SHT87 suggest that this strain can be used for the biodesulfurization of diesel oils.     

Elucidation of 2-hydroxybiphenyl effect on dibenzothiophene desulfurization by Microbacterium sp. strain ZD-M2

The effect of 2-hydroxybiphenyl (2-HBP), the end product of dibenzothiophene (DBT) desulfurization via 4S pathway, on cell growth and desulfurization activity was investigated by Microbacterium sp. The experimental results indicate that 2-HBP would inhibit the desulfurization activity. Providing 2-HBP was added in the reaction media, the DBT degradation rate decreased along with the increase of 2-HBP addition. By contrast, cell growth would be promoted in the addition of 2-HBP at a low concentration (<0.1mM). At high concentration of 2-HBP, the inhibition on the cell growth occurred. Meanwhile, the inhibitory effect of 2-HBP on DBT desulfurization activity was tested both in the oil/aqueous two-phase system and the aqueous system. A mathematical model was developed to explain the product formation kinetics with DBT as the sole sulfur source. The predicted results were close to the experimental data, it elucidated that along with the 2-HBP accumulation, the inhibitory effect of 2-HBP on DBT desulfurization and cell growth was enhanced.     

Biodesulfurization of Naphthothiophene and Benzothiophene through Selective Cleavage of Carbon-Sulfur Bonds by Rhodococcus sp. Strain WU-K2R

Naphtho[2,1-b]thiophene (NTH) is an asymmetric structural isomer of dibenzothiophene (DBT), and in addition to DBT derivatives, NTH derivatives can also be detected in diesel oil following hydrodesulfurization treatment. Rhodococcus sp. strain WU-K2R was newly isolated from soil for its ability to grow in a medium with NTH as the sole source of sulfur, and growing cells of WU-K2R degraded 0.27 mM NTH within 7 days. WU-K2R could also grow in the medium with NTH sulfone, benzothiophene (BTH), 3-methyl-BTH, or 5-methyl-BTH as the sole source of sulfur but could not utilize DBT, DBT sulfone, or 4,6-dimethyl-DBT. On the other hand, WU-K2R did not utilize NTH or BTH as the sole source of carbon. By gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis, desulfurized NTH metabolites were identified as NTH sulfone, 2′-hydroxynaphthylethene, and naphtho[2,1-b]furan. Moreover, since desulfurized BTH metabolites were identified as BTH sulfone, benzo[c][1,2]oxathiin S-oxide, benzo[c][1,2]oxathiin S,S-dioxide, o-hydroxystyrene, 2-(2′-hydroxyphenyl)ethan-1-al, and benzofuran, it was concluded that WU-K2R desulfurized NTH and BTH through the sulfur-specific degradation pathways with the selective cleavage of carbon-sulfur bonds. Therefore, Rhodococcus sp. strain WU-K2R, which could preferentially desulfurize asymmetric heterocyclic sulfur compounds such as NTH and BTH through the sulfur-specific degradation pathways, is a unique desulfurizing biocatalyst showing properties different from those of DBT-desulfurizing bacteria.     

脱硫菌Fds-1的分离鉴定及其对柴油脱硫特性的研究

从含硫土壤中分离筛选出一株专一性脱硫菌Fds-1,经生理生化指标和16S rRNA序列分析鉴定其属于枯草芽孢杆菌(Bacillus subtilis)。用Gibb’s试剂显色和气相色谱-质谱联用分析表明,该菌株通过“4S”途径脱除有机硫。实验发现Fds-1的最佳脱硫活性在30℃,在此温度下72h内能脱除约0.5mmol/L DBT中的有机硫。Fds-1菌株对有机硫化合物的利用情况和柴油脱硫前后烃组分比较都进一步证明该菌株适合于柴油生物脱硫。利用休止细胞对不同组分柴油的脱硫研究表明,脱硫菌株Fds-1对精制柴油中的DBT类化合物的降解能力强。因此,该菌株对精制低硫柴油的深度脱硫具有应用意义。     

Ralstonia eutropha as a biocatalyst for desulfurization of dibenzothiophene

The potential of Ralstonia eutropha as a biocatalyst for desulfurization of dibenzothiophene (DBT) was studied in growing and resting cell conditions. The results of both conditions showed that sulfur was removed from DBT which accompanied by the formation of 2-hydroxybiphenyl (2-HBP). In growing cell experiments, glucose was used as an energy supplying substrate in initial concentrations of 55 mM (energy-limited) and 111 mM (energy-sufficient). The growing cell behaviors were quantitatively described using the logistic equation and maintenance concept. The results indicated that 2-HBP production was higher for the energy-sufficient cultures, while the values of the specific growth rate and the maintenance coefficient for these media were lower than those of the energy-limited cultures. Additionally, the kinetic studies showed that the half-saturation constant for the energy-limited cultures was 2 times higher than the energy-sufficient ones where the inhibition constant (0.08 mM) and the maximum specific DBT desulfurization rate (0.002 mmol g_cell ⁻¹ h⁻¹) were almost constant. By defining desulfurizing capacity (D _DBT) including both the biomass concentration and time to reach a particular percentage of DBT conversion, the best condition for desulfurizing cell was determined at 23% g_cell L⁻¹ h⁻¹ which corresponded with the resting cells that were harvested at the mid-exponential growth phase.

     

Hydrolytic Activity and Substrate Specificity of an Endoglucanase from Zea mays Seedling Cell Walls

An endoglucanase was isolated from cell walls of Zea mays seedlings. Characterization of the hydrolytic activity of this glucanase using model substrates indicated a high specificity for molecules containing intramolecular (1→3),(1→4)-β-d-glucosyl sequences. Substrates with (1→4)-β-glucosyl linkages, such as carboxymethylcellulose and xyloglucan were, degraded to a limited extent by the enzyme, whereas (1→3)-β-glucans such as laminarin were not hydrolyzed. When (1→3),(1→4)-β-d-glucan from Avena endosperm was used as a model substrate a rapid decrease in vicosity was observed concomitant with the formation of a glucosyl polymer (molecular weight of 1-1.5 × 10⁴). Activity against a water soluble (1→3),(1→4)-β-d-glucan extracted from Zea seedling cell walls revealed the same depolymerization pattern. The size of the limit products would indicate that a unique recognition site exists at regular intervals within the (1→3),(1→4)-β-d-glucan molecule. Unique oligosaccharides isolated from the Zea (1→3),(1→4)-β-d-glucan that contained blocks of (1→4) linkages and/or more than a single contiguous (1→3) linkage were hydrolyzed by the endoglucanase. The unique regions of the (1→3),(1→4)-β-d-glucan may be the recognition-hydrolytic site of the Zea endoglucanase.     

Anaerobic Degradation of Uric Acid by Gut Bacteria of Termites

A study was done of anaerobic degradation of uric acid (UA) by representative strains of uricolytic bacteria isolated from guts of Reticulitermes flavipes termites. Streptococcus strain UAD-1 degraded UA incompletely, secreting a fluorescent compound into the medium, unless formate (or a formicogenic compound) was present as a cosubstrate. Formate functioned as a reductant, and its oxidation to CO₂ by formate dehydrogenase provided 2H⁺ + 2e⁻ needed to drive uricolysis to completion. Uricolysis by Streptococcus UAD-1 thus corresponded to the following equation: 1UA + 1formate → 4CO₂ + 1acetate + 4NH₃. Urea did not appear to be an intermediate in CO₂ and NH₃ formation during uricolysis by strain UAD-1. Formate dehydrogenase and uricolytic activities of strain UAD-1 were inducible by growth of cells on UA. Bacteroides termitidis strain UAD-50 degraded UA as follows: 1UA → 3.5 CO₂ + 0.75acetate + 4NH₃. Exogenous formate was neither required for nor stimulatory to uricolysis by strain UAD-50. Studies of UA catabolism by Citrobacter strains were limited, because only small amounts of UA were metabolized by cells in liquid medium. Uricolytic activity of such bacteria in situ could be important to the carbon, nitrogen, and energy economy of R. flavipes.     

Cometabolic Degradation of Dibenzofuran and Dibenzothiophene by a Newly Isolated Carbazole-Degrading Sphingomonas sp. Strain

A carbazole-utilizing bacterium was isolated by enrichment from petroleum-contaminated soil. The isolate, designated Sphingomonas sp. strain XLDN2-5, could utilize carbazole (CA) as the sole source of carbon, nitrogen, and energy. Washed cells of strain XLDN2-5 were shown to be capable of degrading dibenzofuran (DBF) and dibenzothiophene (DBT). Examination of metabolites suggested that XLDN2-5 degraded DBF to 2-hydroxy-6-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-6-oxo-2,4-hexadienic acid and subsequently to salicylic acid through the angular dioxygenation pathway. In contrast to DBF, strain XLDN2-5 could transform DBT through the ring cleavage and sulfoxidation pathways. Sphingomonas sp. strain XLDN2-5 could cometabolically degrade DBF and DBT in the growing system using CA as a substrate. After 40 h of incubation, 90% of DBT was transformed, and CA and DBF were completely removed. These results suggested that strain XLDN2-5 might be useful in the bioremediation of environments contaminated by these compounds.     

Sequence and molecular characterization of a DNA region encoding the dibenzothiophene desulfurization operon of Rhodococcus sp. strain IGTS8.

Dibenzothiophene (DBT), a model compound for sulfur-containing organic molecules found in fossil fuels, can be desulfurized to 2-hydroxybiphenyl (2-HBP) by Rhodococcus sp. strain IGTS8. Complementation of a desulfurization (dsz) mutant provided the genes from Rhodococcus sp. strain IGTS8 responsible for desulfurization. A 6.7-kb TaqI fragment cloned in Escherichia coli-Rhodococcus shuttle vector pRR-6 was found to both complement this mutation and confer desulfurization to Rhodococcus fascians, which normally is not able to desulfurize DBT. Expression of this fragment in E. coli also conferred the ability to desulfurize DBT. A molecular analysis of the cloned fragment revealed a single operon containing three open reading frames involved in the conversion of DBT to 2-HBP. The three genes were designated dszA, dszB, and dszC. Neither the nucleotide sequences nor the deduced amino acid sequences of the enzymes exhibited significant similarity to sequences obtained from the GenBank, EMBL, and Swiss-Prot databases, indicating that these enzymes are novel enzymes. Subclone analyses revealed that the gene product of dszC converts DBT directly to DBT-sulfone and that the gene products of dszA and dszB act in concert to convert DBT-sulfone to 2-HBP.     

Identification and functional analysis of the genes encoding dibenzothiophene-desulfurizing enzymes from thermophilic bacteria

Thermophilic bacteria Bacillus subtilis WU-S2B and Mycobacterium phlei WU-F1 desulfurize dibenzothiophene (DBT) and alkylated DBTs through specific cleavage of the carbon-sulfur bonds over a temperature range up to 52°C. In order to identify and functionally analyze the DBT-desulfurization genes, the gene cluster containing bdsA, bdsB, and bdsC was cloned from B. subtilis WU-S2B. The nucleotide and amino acid sequences of bdsABC show homologies to those of the other known DBT-desulfurization genes and enzymes; e.g. a nucleotide sequence homology of 61.0% to dszABC of the mesophilic bacterium Rhodococcus sp. IGTS8 and 57.8% to tdsABC of the thermophilic bacterium Paenibacillus sp. A11-2. Deletion and subcloning analysis of bdsABC revealed that the gene products of bdsC, bdsA and bdsB oxidized DBT to DBT sulfone (DBTO₂), converted DBTO₂ to 2-hydroxybiphenyl-2-sulfinate (HBPSi), and desulfurized HBPSi to 2-hydroxybiphenyl (2-HBP), respectively. Resting cells of a recombinant Escherichia coli JM109 harboring bdsABC converted DBT to 2-HBP over a temperature range of 30–52°C, indicating that the gene products of bdsABC were functional in the recombinant. The activities of DBT degradation at 50°C and DBT desulfurization (2-HBP production) at 40°C in resting cells of the recombinant were approximately five times and twice, respectively, as high as those in B. subtilis WU-S2B. The recombinant E. coli cells also degraded alkylated DBTs, such as 2,8-dimethylDBT and 4,6-dimethylDBT. The nucleotide sequences of B. subtilis WU-S2B bdsABC and the corresponding genes from M. phlei WU-F1 were found to be completely identical to each other although the strains are genetically different.     

Combining co-culturing of Paenibacillus strains and Vitreoscilla hemoglobin expression as a strategy to improve biodesulfurization

Enhancement of the desulfurization activities of Paenibacillus strains 32O-W and 32O-Y were investigated using dibenzothiophene (DBT) and DBT sulfone (DBTS) as sources of sulphur in growth experiments. Strains 32O-W, 32O-Y and their co-culture (32O-W plus 32O-Y), and Vitreoscilla hemoglobin (VHb) expressing recombinant strain 32O-Yvgb and its co-culture with strain 32O-W were grown at varying concentrations (0·1–2 mmol l⁻¹) of DBT or DBTS for 96 h, and desulfurization measured by production of 2-hydroxybiphenyl (2-HBP) and disappearance of DBT or DBTS. Of the four cultures grown with DBT as sulphur source, the best growth occurred for the 32O-Yvgb plus 32O-W co-culture at 0·1 and 0·5 mmol l⁻¹ DBT. Although the presence of vgb provided no consistent advantage regarding growth on DBTS, strain 32O-W, as predicted by previous work, was shown to contain a partial 4S desulfurization pathway allowing it to metabolize this 4S pathway intermediate.     

Isolation and characterization of oil-desulphurizing bacteria

The objective of this study was to isolate local bacterial strains capable of removing sulphur from oil fractions without degrading the hydrocarbon. Oil biodesulphurization is an important step in combating pollution problems emanating from burning fossil fuels. Organisms which survive on oil are plentiful in local Kuwaiti soils; however, those that selectively only attack the carbon–sulphur bond are more difficult to find. Three strains were isolated based on their ability to use dibenzothiophene (DBT) as a sole source of sulphur for growth at 30 °C. Similar to other biodesulphurization organisms, the strains convert DBT to [2-hydroxybiphenyl (2-HBP) as detected by gas chromatography (GC). The specific desulphurization activity was in the range 5–13 mol 2-HBP/g-cell × h. Identification of the strains, based on 16 rRNA gene sequence similarity, showed the strains to be Rhodococcus erythropolis and Rhodococcus globerulus. The biodesulphurization activity was enhanced by promoting oxidore-ductase enzyme co-expression through the addition of a carbon source. The desulphurization was limited by the availability of DBT to the organism. Interfacial mass transfer through the aqueous-organic layer was confirmed to be a limiting factor.     

Utilization of Ganglioside-Degrading Paenibacillus sp. Strain TS12 for Production of Glucosylceramide

Gangliosides, sialic acid-containing glycosphingolipids, are membrane constituents of vertebrates and are known to have important roles in cellular differentiation, adhesion, and recognition. We report here the isolation of a bacterium capable of degrading gangliotetraose-series gangliosides and a new method for the production of glucosylceramide with this bacterium. GM1a ganglioside was found to be sequentially degraded by Paenibacillus sp. strain TS12, which was isolated from soil, as follows: GM1a → asialo GM1 → asialo GM2 → lactosylceramide → glucosylceramide. TS12 was found to produce a series of ganglioside-degrading enzymes, such as sialidases, β-galactosidases, and β-hexosaminidases. TS12 also produced β-glucosidases, but glucosylceramide was somewhat resistant to the bacterial enzyme under the conditions used. Taking advantage of the specificity, we developed a new method for the production of glucosylceramide using TS12 as a biocatalyst. The method involves the conversion of crude bovine brain gangliosides to glucosylceramide by coculture with TS12 and purification of the product by chromatography with Wakogel C-300 HG.     

Microbial desulfurization of dibenzothiophene in the presence of hydrocarbon

The bacterium, Rhodococcus erythropolis H-2, which can utilize dibenzothiophene (DBT) as a sole source of sulfur in the presence of hydrocarbon, was isolated from soil samples. When this strain was cultivated in a medium containing 0.27 mM DBT and 40% n-tetradecane, DBT was metabolized stoichiometrically to 2-hydroxybiphenyl within 1 day. This strain grew in the presence of n-octane and longer-carbonchain hydrocarbons, but not with n-hexane, styrene, p-xylene, cyclooctane or toluene. DBT degradation proceeded in the resting cell system with lyophilized cells of this strain. The addition of n-tetradecane enhanced the reaction rate, the optimal concentration being 40%. DBT degradation occurred in the reaction mixture even in the presence of 70% n-tetradecane, whereas at concentrations above 80% n-tetradecane suppressed the degradation.     

Evidence for the role of zinc on the performance of dibenzothiophene desulfurization by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gordonia alkanivorans</Emphasis> strain 1B

Gordonia alkanivorans strain 1B is able to desulfurize dibenzothiophene (DBT) to 2-hydroxybiphenyl (2-HBP), the final product of the 4S pathway. However, both the cell growth and the rate of desulfurization can be largely affected by the nutrient composition of the growth medium due to cofactor requirements of many enzymes involved in the biochemical pathways. In this work, the effect of several metal ions on the growth and DBT desulfurization by G. alkanivorans was studied. From all the metal ions tested, only the absence of zinc significantly affected the cell growth and the desulfurization rate. By increasing the concentration of Zn from 1 to 10 mg L⁻¹, 2-HBP productivity was improved by 26%. The absence of Zn²⁺, when sulfate was also used as the only sulfur source, did not cause any difference in the bacterial growth. Resting cells grown in the presence of Zn²⁺ exhibited a 2-HBP specific productivity of 2.29 μmol g⁻¹ (DCW) h⁻¹, 7.6-fold higher than the specific productivity obtained by resting cells grown in the absence of Zn²⁺ (0.30 μmol g⁻¹ (DCW) h⁻¹). These data suggests that zinc might have a key physiological role in the metabolism of DBT desulfurization.     

Highly Hydrolytic Reuteransucrase from Probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri Strain ATCC 55730

Lactobacillus reuteri strain ATCC 55730 (LB BIO) was isolated as a pure culture from a Reuteri tablet purchased from the BioGaia company. This probiotic strain produces a soluble glucan (reuteran), in which the majority of the linkages are of the α-(1→4) glucosidic type (~70%). This reuteran also contains α-(1→6)- linked glucosyl units and 4,6-disubstituted α-glucosyl units at the branching points. The LB BIO glucansucrase gene (gtfO) was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli, and the GTFO enzyme was purified. The recombinant GTFO enzyme and the LB BIO culture supernatants synthesized identical glucan polymers with respect to linkage type and size distribution. GTFO thus is a reuteransucrase, responsible for synthesis of this reuteran polymer in LB BIO. The preference of GTFO for synthesizing α-(1→4) linkages is also evident from the oligosaccharides produced from sucrose with different acceptor substrates, e.g., isopanose from isomaltose. GTFO has a relatively high hydrolysis/transferase activity ratio. Complete conversion of 100 mM sucrose by GTFO nevertheless yielded large amounts of reuteran, although more than 50% of sucrose was converted into glucose. This is only the second example of the isolation and characterization of a reuteransucrase and its reuteran product, both found in different L. reuteri strains. GTFO synthesizes a reuteran with the highest amount of α-(1→4) linkages reported to date.     

A novel enzyme, 2'-hydroxybiphenyl-2-sulfinate desulfinase (DszB), from a dibenzothiophene-desulfurizing bacterium Rhodococcus erythropolis KA2-5-1: gene overexpression and enzyme characterization

Dibenzothiophene (DBT), a model of organic sulfur compound in petroleum, is microbially desulfurized to 2-hydroxybiphenyl (2-HBP), and the gene operon dszABC was required for DBT desulfurization. The final step in the microbial DBT desulfurization is the conversion of 2'-hydroxybiphenyl-2-sulfinate (HBPSi) to 2-HBP catalyzed by DszB. In this study, DszB of a DBT-desulfurizing bacterium Rhodococcus erythropolis KA2-5-1 was overproduced in Escherichia coli by coexpression with chaperonin genes, groEL/groES, at 25 degrees C. The recombinant DszB was purified to homogeneity and characterized. The optimal temperature and pH for DszB activity were 35 degrees C and about 7.5, respectively. The K(m) and k(cat) values for HBPSi were 8.2 microM and 0.123.s(-1), respectively. DszB has only one cysteine residue, and the mutant enzyme completely lost the activity when the cysteine residue was changed to a serine residue. This result together with experiments using inhibitors showed that the cysteine residue contributes to the enzyme activity. DszB was also inhibited by a reaction product, 2-HBP (K(i)=0.25 mM), and its derivatives, but not by the other reaction product, sulfite. The enzyme showed a narrow substrate specificity: only 2-phenylbenzene sulfinate except HBPSi served as a substrate among the aromatic and aliphatic sulfinates or sulfonates tested. DszB was thought to be a novel enzyme (HBPSi desulfinase) in that it could specifically cleave the carbon-sulfur bond of HBPSi to give 2-HBP and sulfite ion without the aid of any other proteinic components and coenzymes.     

Growth of Rhodosporidium toruloides Strain DBVPG 6662 on Dibenzothiophene Crystals and Orimulsion

Strains DBVPG 6662 and DBVPG 6739 of Rhodosporidium toruloides, a basidiomycete yeast, grew on thiosulfate as a sulfur source and glucose (2 g liter⁻¹ or 10.75 mM) as a carbon source. DBVPG 6662 has a defective sulfate transport system, whereas DBVPG 6739 barely grew on sulfate. They were compared for the ability to use dibenzothiophene (DBT) and related organic sulfur compounds as sulfur sources. In the presence of glucose as a carbon source and DBT as a sulfur source, strain DBVPG 6662 grew better than DBVPG 6739. In the presence of thiosulfate as a sulfur source, the two yeast strains did not use DBT, DBT-sulfone, benzenesulfonic acid, biphenyl, and fluorene. When the two strains were grown in the presence of glucose, strain DBVPG 6662 transformed 27% of the DBT present (10 μM) at a rate of 0.023 μmol liter⁻¹ h⁻¹ in 36 h. Traces of 2,2′-dihydroxylated biphenyl were transiently accumulated under these conditions. When the same strain was grown on glucose in the presence of a higher concentration of DBT (0.5 g liter⁻¹), mainly in an insoluble form, the whole surface of the DBT crystals was colonized by a thick mycelium. This adherent structure was imaged by confocal microscopy with fluorescent concanavalin A, a lectin that specifically binds glucose and mannose residues. When DBVPG 6662 was grown on glucose in the presence of a commercial emulsion of bitumen, i.e., orimulsion, 68% of the benzo- and dibenzothiophenes and DBTs was removed after 15 days of incubation. The fungus adhered by hyphae to orimulsion droplets. When cultivated in the presence of commercial emulsifier-free fuel oil containing alkylated benzothiophenes and DBTs and having a composition similar to that of orimulsion, strain DBVPG 6662 removed only 11% of the total organic sulfur that occurs in the medium and did not adhere to the oil droplets. These results indicate that strain DBVPG 6662 is able to utilize the organic sulfur of DBT and a large variety of thiophenic compounds that occur extensively in commercial fuel oils by physically adhering to the organic sulfur source.     

Methoxylation pathway in biodesulfurization of model organosulfur compounds with Mycobacterium sp.

A metabolic pathway for the biodesulfurization of model organosulfur compounds e.g., dibenzothiophene (DBT), is proposed. This pathway, defined as extended 4S pathway, incorporates the traditional 4S pathway with the methoxylation pathway from 2-hydroxybiphenyl (HBP) to 2-methoxybiphenyl (2-MBP). The formation of 2-MBP was confirmed by the gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis. A similar pathway was also obtained in the desulfurization of 4,6-dimethyldibenzothiophene (4,6-DMDBT), confirming the methoxylation reaction in the desulfurization process by the Mycobacterium sp. strain. Compared with 2-HBP, 2-MBP has much slighter inhibition effect on the cell growth and desulfurization activity. Thus, the methoxylation pathway from 2-HBP to 2-MBP would make less inhibitory effect on the microbe. The new pathway with 2-MBP as the end product may be an alternative for the further desulfuration of the fossil fuels.