Isolation of a methyl parathion-degrading Pseudomonas sp. that possesses DNA homologous to the opd gene from a Flavobacterium sp

Two mixed bacterial cultures isolated by soil enrichment were capable of utilizing methyl parathion (O,O-dimethyl O-p-nitrophenylphosphorothioate) and parathion (O,O-diethyl O-p-nitrophenylphosphorothioate) as a sole source of carbon. Four isolates from these mixed cultures lost their ability to utilize the pesticides independently in transfers subsequent to the initial isolation. One member of the mixed cultures, a Pseudomonas sp., however, hydrolyzed the pesticides to p-nitrophenol but required glucose or another carbon source for growth. The crude cell extracts prepared from this bacterium showed an optimum pH range from 7.5 to 9.5 for the enzymatic hydrolysis. Maximum enzymatic activity occurred between 35 and 40 degrees C. The enzyme activity was not inhibited by heavy metals, EDTA, or NaN3. Another isolate from the mixed cultures, a Flavobacterium sp., used p-nitrophenol for growth and degraded it to nitrite. Nitrite was assimilated into the cells under conditions during which the nitrogen source was excluded from the minimal growth medium. The hybridization data showed that the DNAs from a Pseudomonas sp. and from the mixed culture had homology with the opd (organophosphate degradation) gene from a previously reported parathion-hydrolyzing bacterium, Flavobacterium sp. The use of the opd gene as a probe may accelerate progress toward understanding the complex interactions of soil microorganisms with parathions.     

Isolation of a methyl parathion-degrading Pseudomonas sp. that possesses DNA homologous to the opd gene from a Flavobacterium sp.

Two mixed bacterial cultures isolated by soil enrichment were capable of utilizing methyl parathion (O,O-dimethyl O-p-nitrophenylphosphorothioate) and parathion (O,O-diethyl O-p-nitrophenylphosphorothioate) as a sole source of carbon. Four isolates from these mixed cultures lost their ability to utilize the pesticides independently in transfers subsequent to the initial isolation. One member of the mixed cultures, a Pseudomonas sp., however, hydrolyzed the pesticides to p-nitrophenol but required glucose or another carbon source for growth. The crude cell extracts prepared from this bacterium showed an optimum pH range from 7.5 to 9.5 for the enzymatic hydrolysis. Maximum enzymatic activity occurred between 35 and 40 degrees C. The enzyme activity was not inhibited by heavy metals, EDTA, or NaN3. Another isolate from the mixed cultures, a Flavobacterium sp., used p-nitrophenol for growth and degraded it to nitrite. Nitrite was assimilated into the cells under conditions during which the nitrogen source was excluded from the minimal growth medium. The hybridization data showed that the DNAs from a Pseudomonas sp. and from the mixed culture had homology with the opd (organophosphate degradation) gene from a previously reported parathion-hydrolyzing bacterium, Flavobacterium sp. The use of the opd gene as a probe may accelerate progress toward understanding the complex interactions of soil microorganisms with parathions.     

Hydrolysis of Selected Organophosphorus Insecticides by Two Bacteria Isolated from Flooded Soil

Flavobacterium sp. ATCC 27551 hydrolysed both diethyl (parathion and diazinon) and dimethyl (methyl parathion and fenitrothion) phosphorothioates while Pseudomonas sp. ATCC 29353 hydrolysed only diethyl (parathion and diazinon) phosphorothioates. Glucose inhibited the hydrolysis of parathion by Pseudomonas sp., but not by Flavobacterium sp. Evidently, the Flavobacterium hydrolase differs from that of Pseudomonas sp. The Pseudomonas sp. converted 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol in the presence of glucose and to nitrite in its absence; 4-nitrophenol was not metabolized by the Flavobacterium sp.     

有机磷农药在水生态系中生物净化机理研究——3.对硫磷及其降解产物对栅藻光合作用的影响和模拟藻菌系统中对硝基酚的降解

对硝基酚对栅藻光合放氧有明显抑制作用,半抑制浓度在16毫克/升左右;对硝基酚钠对栅藻光合放氧和CO2同化的抑制作用十分一致,它们的半抑制浓度分别在54毫克/升和52毫克/升左右。实验室证明对硝基酚在水体中主要是由细菌分解,藻类起供氧作用。一旦藻类的光合放氧受到抑制,细菌对对硝基酚的好气性降解能力也消失。对硫磷和二乙基硫代磷酸钾对栅藻光合放氧无明显抑制作用。       

对硝基苯酚降解菌P3的分离、降解特性及基因工程菌的构建

分离到一株假单胞菌 (Pseudomonassp .)P3 ,该菌能够以对硝基苯酚为唯一碳源和氮源进行生长。在有外加氮源的条件下 ,P3降解对硝基苯酚并在培养液中积累亚硝酸根。P3有比较广泛的底物适应性 ,对多种芳香族化合物都有降解能力。不同金属离子对P3降解对硝基苯酚有不同的作用。葡萄糖的存在对P3降解对硝基苯酚无明显促进作用 ,而微量酵母粉可以大大促进P3对硝基苯酚的降解。以P3为受体菌 ,通过接合转移的手段将甲基对硫磷水解酶基因mpd克隆至P3菌中 ,获得了表达甲基对硫磷水解酶活性的基因工程菌PM ,PM能够以甲基对硫磷为唯一碳源进行生长。工程菌PM具有较高的甲基对硫磷降解活性及稳定性     

有机磷农药在水生态系中生物净化机理研究——1.对硫磷的酶解

从氧化塘系统中分离出能降解对硫磷的细菌Pseudomonas sp.代号CTP-01,能将对硫磷分解成对硝基酚和二乙基硫代磷酸酯,并进一步分解对硝基酚。在有Cu++存在的情况下,酶比活可以达到1×104毫微克分子/毫克蛋白/分钟,Cu++对酶有激活作用,并对温度和pH影响有保护作用。对硫磷水解酶反应最适温度为40—50℃,超过50℃活性急剧降低,80℃完全失活。 CTP-01的对硫磷水解酶大部分是同膜片结合状态存在,超声破碎的无细胞酶制剂中,只有37.2%的活力存在于可溶性蛋白部分。       

有机磷农药在水生态系中生物净化机理研究——2.CTP-02降解对硝基酚的特性和动力学

从鸭儿湖氧化塘中分离出具有分解对硝基酚能力的细菌Pseudomonas sp.,代号CTP-02。在实验室条件下,细菌培养物降解对硝基酚的速度与时间之间的动力学方程为dc/dt=-K1t-K2,细菌降解对硝基酚的最适温度为35℃,最适pH为7.5。CTP-02菌降解对硝基酚过程中首先发生脱硝基作用。       

有机磷农药在水生态系中生物净化机理研究 4. Pseudomonas sp. CTP-01 的对硫磷水解酶诱导合成性质

Pseudomonas sp.CTP-01的对硫磷水解酶具有底物诱导合成性质。停滞生长期的细胞接触底物半小时即产生相应酶的合成,而指数生长期的细胞接触底物48小时后才发生酶的合成。甲基对硫磷及对硝基酚也具有诱导作用,可见合成对硫磷水解酶的诱导特异基团可能与对硝基酚及其苯环上的取代基有密切关系。       

Optical microbial biosensor for detection of methyl parathion pesticide using Flavobacterium sp. whole cells adsorbed on glass fiber filters as disposable biocomponent

An optical microbial biosensor was described for the detection of methyl parathion pesticide. Whole cells of Flavobacterium sp. were immobilized by trapping in glass fiber filter and were used as biocomponent along with optic fiber system. Flavobacterium sp. has the organophosphorus hydrolase enzyme, which hydrolyzes the methyl parathion into detectable product p-nitrophenol. The immobilized microbial biocomponent was disposable, cost-effective and showed high reproducibility and uniformity. The detection of methyl parathion by the use of disposable microbial biocomponent with optical biosensor was simple, single step and direct measurement of very low quantity of the sample. The home made reaction vessel was small and needed only 75 microl of sample. A lower detection limit 0.3 microM methyl parathion was estimated from the linear range (4-80 microM) of calibration plot of organophosphorus hydrolase enzymatic assay. The applicability to synthetic methyl parathion spiked samples was demonstrated.     

Improved degradation of organophosphorus nerve agents and p-nitrophenol by Pseudomonas putida JS444 with surface-expressed organophosphorus hydrolase

Pseudomonas putida JS444, isolated from p-nitrophenol (PNP) contaminated waste sites, was genetically engineered to simultaneously degrade organophosphorus pesticides (OP) and PNP. A surface anchor system derived from the ice-nucleation protein (INP) from Pseudomonas syringae was used to target the organophosphorus hydrolase (OPH) onto the surface of Pseudomonas putida JS444, reducing the potential substrate uptake limitation. Engineered cells were capable of targeting OPH onto the cell surface as demonstrated by western blotting, cell fractionation, and immunofluorescence microscopy. The engineered P. putida JS444 degraded organophosphates as well as PNP rapidly without instability problems associated with the engineered Moraxella sp. The initial hydrolysis rate was 7.90, 3.54, and 1.53 micromol/h/mg dry weight for paraoxon, parathion, and methyl parathion, respectively. The excellent stability in combination with the rapid degradation rate for organophosphates and PNP make this engineered strain an ideal biocatalyst for complete mineralization of organophosphates.     

Parathion utilization by bacterial symbionts in a chemostat.

A continuous-culture device was used to select and enrich for microorganisms, from sewage and agricultural runoff, that were capable of using the organophosphorus insecticide parathion as a sole growth substrate. Parathion was dissimilated by the highly acclimated symbiotic activities of Pseudomonas stutzeri, which non-oxidatively and cometabolically hydrolyzed the parathion to ionic diethyl thiophosphate and p-nitrophenol, and P. aeruginosa, which utilized the p-nitrophenol as a sole carbon and energy source. Ionic diethyl thiophosphate was found to be inert to any transformations. Methyl parathion was dissimilated in an analogous way. The device functioned as a chemostat with parathion as the growth-limiting nutrient, and extraordinarily high dissimilation rates were attained for parathion (8 g/liter per day) and for p-nitrophenol (7 g/liter per day). This is the first report of parathion utilization by a defined microbial culture and by symbiotic microbial attack and of dissimilation of an organophosphorus pesticide in a chemostat.     

Parathion utilization by bacterial symbionts in a chemostat.

A continuous-culture device was used to select and enrich for microorganisms, from sewage and agricultural runoff, that were capable of using the organophosphorus insecticide parathion as a sole growth substrate. Parathion was dissimilated by the highly acclimated symbiotic activities of Pseudomonas stutzeri, which non-oxidatively and cometabolically hydrolyzed the parathion to ionic diethyl thiophosphate and p-nitrophenol, and P. aeruginosa, which utilized the p-nitrophenol as a sole carbon and energy source. Ionic diethyl thiophosphate was found to be inert to any transformations. Methyl parathion was dissimilated in an analogous way. The device functioned as a chemostat with parathion as the growth-limiting nutrient, and extraordinarily high dissimilation rates were attained for parathion (8 g/liter per day) and for p-nitrophenol (7 g/liter per day). This is the first report of parathion utilization by a defined microbial culture and by symbiotic microbial attack and of dissimilation of an organophosphorus pesticide in a chemostat.     

Destruction and formation of toxins by one bacterial species affect biodegradation by a second species

Two strains of Pseudomonas able to grow on phenol or p-nitrophenol (PNP) were isolated from sewage. Pseudomonas sp. PN101 mineralized and formed nitrite from PNP but did not mineralize phenol, and Pseudomonas sp. PH111 mineralized phenol but not PNP. Phenol increased the lag period before Pseudomonas sp. PN101 grew on and mineralized PNP, but this toxicity was reduced by inoculation of the medium with Pseudomonas sp. PH111. PNP inhibited growth of Pseudomonas sp. PH111 and slightly increased the length of the acclimation period for the mineralization of phenol by the bacterium. Inoculation of Pseudomonas sp. PN101 into solutions containing PNP and phenol increased the lag period prior to growth of Pseudomonas sp. PH111 on phenol and markedly lengthened the lag period for its mineralization of phenol. Coinciding with this delay in the onset of phenol degradation was the accumulation of an organic compound formed from PNP by Pseudomonas sp. PN101. This compound was not mineralized by the phenol-degrading bacterium. The data suggest that bacteria may interact during the decomposition of chemical mixtures by destroying or by forming toxins that affect the biodegradation of individual components of those mixtures.     

Microbial Decontamination of Parathion and p-Nitrophenol in Aqueous Media

A mixed microbial culture was adapted to growth on parathion to determine the feasibility of using microorganisms to detoxify concentrated parathion in agricultural wastes. In a 600-ml chemostat, the culture was able to degrade 50 mg of parathion per liter per h. Para-nitrophenol, produced by enzymatic hydrolysis of parathion, caused delays in exponential growth which were directly proportional to its concentration. A pseudomonad, isolated from the mixed culture, exhibited optimal growth at 0.21 mM p-nitrophenol and grew in concentrations up to 3.5 mM. In metabolic studies using [(14)C]p-nitrophenol, the nitro group was removed in stoichiometric quantities as nitrite and hydroquinone was tentatively identified as a metabolite.     

Immobilization of microbial cells on inner epidermis of onion bulb scale for biosensor application

Inner epidermis of onion bulb scales was used as a natural support for immobilization of microbial cells for biosensor application. A bacterium Sphingomonas sp. that hydrolyzes methyl parathion into a chromophoric product, p-nitrophenol (PNP), has been isolated and identified in our laboratory. PNP can be detected by electrochemical and colorimetric methods. Whole cells of Sphingomonas sp. were immobilized on inner epidermis of onion bulb scale by adsorption followed by cross-linking methods. Cells immobilized onion membrane was directly placed in the wells of microplate and associated with the optical transducer. Methyl parathion is an organophosphorus pesticide that has been widely used in the field of agriculture for insect pest control. This pesticide causes environmental pollution and ecological problem. A detection range 4-80 μM of methyl parathion was estimated from the linear range of calibration plot of enzymatic assay. A single membrane was reused for 52 reactions and was found to be stable for 32 days with 90% of its initial hydrolytic activity. The applicability of the cells immobilized onion membrane was also demonstrated with spiked samples.     

Thermophilic Bacillus sp. that shows the denitrification phenotype of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

A thermophilic Bacillus sp. of marine origin was observed to grow anaerobically on nitrite, nitrous oxide (N2O) in the presence of nitrite, and N2O alone for a few hours after exhaustion of nitrite. This represents the second example of a denitrification phenotype originally observed to occur with Pseudomonas aeruginosa.     

Thermophilic Bacillus sp. that shows the denitrification phenotype of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

A thermophilic Bacillus sp. of marine origin was observed to grow anaerobically on nitrite, nitrous oxide (N2O) in the presence of nitrite, and N2O alone for a few hours after exhaustion of nitrite. This represents the second example of a denitrification phenotype originally observed to occur with Pseudomonas aeruginosa.     

Cloning and expression of a parathion hydrolase gene from a soil bacterium, Burkholderia sp. JBA3

A bacterium, Burkholderia sp. JBA3, which can mineralize the pesticide parathion, was isolated from an agricultural soil. The strain JBA3 hydrolyzed parathion to p-nitrophenol, which was further utilized as the carbon and energy sources. The parathion hydrolase was encoded by a gene on a plasmid that strain JBA3 harbored, and it was cloned into pUC19 as a 3.7-kbp Sau3AI fragment. The ORF2 (ophB) in the cloned fragment encoded the parathion hydrolase composed of 526 amino acids, which was expressed in E. coli DH10B. The ophB gene showed no significant sequence similarity to most of other reported parathion hydrolase genes.     

Metabolic engineering of Pseudomonas putida for the utilization of parathion as a carbon and energy source

Pseudomonas putida KT2442 was engineered to use the organophosphate pesticide parathion, a compound similar to other organophosphate pesticides and chemical warfare agents, as a source of carbon and energy. The initial step in the engineered degradation pathway was parathion hydrolysis by organophosphate hydrolase (OPH) to p-nitrophenol (PNP) and diethyl thiophosphate, compounds that cannot be metabolized by P. putida KT2442. The gene encoding the native OPH (opd), with and without the secretory leader sequence, was cloned into broad-host-range plasmids under the control of tac and taclac promoters. Expression of opd from the tac promoter resulted in high OPH activity, whereas expression from the taclac promoter resulted in low activity. A plasmid-harboring operons encoding enzymes for p-nitrophenol transformation to beta-ketoadipate was transformed into P. putida allowing the organism to use 0.5 mM PNP as a carbon and energy source. Transformation of P. putida with the plasmids harboring opd and the PNP operons allowed the organism to utilize 0.8 mM parathion as a source of carbon and energy. Degradation studies showed that parathion formed a separate dense, non-aqueous phase liquid phase but was still bioavailable.     

A constructed microbial consortium for biodegradation of the organophosphorus insecticide parathion

A consortium comprised of two engineered microorganisms was assembled for biodegradation of the organophosphate insecticide parathion. Escherichia coli SD2 harbored two plasmids, one encoding a gene for parathion hydrolase and a second carrying a green fluorescent protein marker. Pseudomonas putida KT2440 pSB337 contained a p-nitrophenol-inducible plasmid-borne operon encoding the genes for p-nitrophenol mineralization. The co-culture effectively hydrolyzed 500 microM parathion (146 mg l(-1)) and prevented the accumulation of p-nitrophenol in suspended culture. Kinetic analyses were conducted to characterize the growth and substrate utilization of the consortium members. Parathion hydrolysis by E. coli SD2 followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics. p-Nitrophenol mineralization by P. putida KT2440 pSB337 exhibited substrate-inhibition kinetics. The growth of both strains was inhibited by increasing concentrations of p-nitrophenol, with E. coli SD2 completely inhibited by 600 microM p-nitrophenol (83 mg l(-1)) and P. putida KT2440 pSB337 inhibited by 1,000 microM p-nitrophenol (139 mg l(-1)). Cultivation of the consortium as a biofilm indicated that the two species could cohabit as a population of attached cells. Analysis by confocal microscopy showed that the biofilm was predominantly comprised of P. putida KT2440 pSB337 and that the distribution of E. coli SD2 within the biofilm was heterogeneous. The use of biofilms for the construction of degradative consortia may prove beneficial.