Lateral transfer of genes for hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) degradation

Appl Environ Microbiol. 2009 May;75(10):3258-62. doi: 10.1128/AEM.02396-08. Epub 2009 Mar 6.

Abstract

Recent studies demonstrated that degradation of the military explosive hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) by species of Rhodococcus, Gordonia, and Williamsia is mediated by a novel cytochrome P450 with a fused flavodoxin reductase domain (XplA) in conjunction with a flavodoxin reductase (XplB). Pulse field gel analysis was used to localize xplA to extrachromosomal elements in a Rhodococcus sp. and distantly related Microbacterium sp. strain MA1. Comparison of Rhodococcus rhodochrous 11Y and Microbacterium plasmid sequences in the vicinity of xplB and xplA showed near identity (6,710 of 6,721 bp). Sequencing of the associated 52.2-kb region of the Microbacterium plasmid pMA1 revealed flanking insertion sequence elements and additional genes implicated in RDX uptake and degradation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Actinomycetales / genetics*
  • Actinomycetales / metabolism
  • Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / genetics*
  • Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / metabolism
  • DNA, Bacterial / chemistry
  • DNA, Bacterial / genetics*
  • Gene Transfer, Horizontal
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • NADH, NADPH Oxidoreductases / genetics*
  • NADH, NADPH Oxidoreductases / metabolism
  • Phylogeny
  • Plasmids
  • Rhodococcus / genetics*
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Sequence Homology
  • Triazines / metabolism*

Substances

  • DNA, Bacterial
  • Triazines
  • Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System
  • NADH, NADPH Oxidoreductases
  • flavodoxin NADPH oxidoreductase
  • cyclonite

Associated data

  • GENBANK/FJ357539
  • GENBANK/FJ577793