Isolation and functional analysis of a glycolipid producing Rhodococcus sp. strain IITR03 with potential for degradation of 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)ethane (DDT)

Bioresour Technol. 2014 Sep:167:398-406. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2014.06.007. Epub 2014 Jun 19.

Abstract

A 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)ethane (DDT) degrading bacterium strain IITR03 producing trehalolipid was isolated and characterized from a pesticides contaminated soil. The strain IITR03 was identified as a member of the genus Rhodococcus based on polyphasic studies. Under aqueous culture conditions, the strain IITR03 degraded 282 μM of DDT and could also utilize 10mM concentration each of 4-chlorobenzoic acid, 3-chlorobenzoic acid and benzoic acid as sole carbon and energy source. The catechol 1,2-dioxygenase enzyme activity resulted in conversion of catechol to form cis,cis-muconic acid. Cloning and sequencing of partial nucleotide sequence of catechol 1,2-dioxygenase gene (cat) from strain IITR03 revealed its similarity to catA gene present in Rhodococcus sp. strain Lin-2 (97% identity) and Rhodococcus strain AN22 (96% identity) degrading benzoate and aniline, respectively. The results suggest that the strain IITR03 could be useful for field bioremediation studies of DDT-residues and chlorinated aromatic compounds present in contaminated sites.

Keywords: Biodegradation; Biosurfactant; Chloroaromatic compound; Rhodococcus sp..

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biodegradation, Environmental / drug effects
  • Catechol 1,2-Dioxygenase / genetics
  • Catechol 1,2-Dioxygenase / metabolism
  • DDT / metabolism*
  • Fatty Acids / analysis
  • Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
  • Glycolipids / biosynthesis*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Phenotype
  • Phylogeny
  • Pyruvic Acid / pharmacology
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / genetics
  • Reference Standards
  • Rhodococcus / enzymology
  • Rhodococcus / growth & development
  • Rhodococcus / isolation & purification*
  • Rhodococcus / metabolism*
  • Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet
  • Succinic Acid / pharmacology

Substances

  • Fatty Acids
  • Glycolipids
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
  • Pyruvic Acid
  • Succinic Acid
  • DDT
  • Catechol 1,2-Dioxygenase

Associated data

  • GENBANK/JQ889713
  • GENBANK/KJ756348