Bioremediation of organophosphorus pesticides by surface-expressed carboxylesterase from mosquito on Escherichia coli

Biotechnol Prog. 2004 Sep-Oct;20(5):1567-71. doi: 10.1021/bp049903c.

Abstract

The insecticide resistance-associated esterase, carboxylesterase B1 (CaE B1), from mosquito was used to degrade the organophosphorus compounds. To eradicate the need for enzyme purification and minimize the resistance to mass transport of the substrate and product across the cell membranes, the CaE B1 was displayed on the cell surface of Escherichia coli fused to the C-terminus of the ice nucleation protein (INP). The presence of CaE B1 on the bacterial cell surface was verified by SDS-PAGE, Western blotting analysis, and immunofluorescence microscopy. More than 50% of active CaE B1 is exported across the membrane and anchored onto the cell surface as determined by proteinase accessibility and cell fractionation experiments. In contrast, only a 6% drop in activity for proteinase K-treated cells was detected from E.coli cells containing pET-B1. From the degradation experiment, more than 80% of the malathion was degraded by whole cells containing plasmid pUC-NC-B1. Constitutive expression of CaE B1 on the surface using INPNC resulted in no cell lysis, and the suspended cultures also exhibited good stability. Because of their high biodegradation activity and superior stability, these "live biocatalysts" are promising for detoxification of organophosphorus pesticides.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Biodegradation, Environmental
  • Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases / biosynthesis*
  • Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases / chemistry*
  • Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases / genetics
  • Cloning, Molecular / methods
  • Culicidae / enzymology*
  • Culicidae / genetics
  • Enzyme Activation
  • Enzyme Stability
  • Escherichia coli / genetics
  • Escherichia coli / metabolism*
  • Insecticides / metabolism
  • Malathion / metabolism*
  • Membrane Proteins / chemistry
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Organophosphorus Compounds / metabolism
  • Protein Engineering / methods*
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / chemistry
  • Soil Pollutants / metabolism

Substances

  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins
  • Insecticides
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Organophosphorus Compounds
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Soil Pollutants
  • ice nucleation protein
  • Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases
  • carboxylesterase B1
  • Malathion