Enzyme breaks down hydrocarbons: bacteria

The metabolism of Mycobacterium gilvum can break down polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, including pyrene, via the dioxygenase NidAB enzyme.

Biomimicry Taxonomy

	Break down >
	Chemically break down >
	Other organic compounds

Biomimetic Application Ideas

Bioremediation of mines, polluted sites, factories, smelters, tailings.

[Collapse all sections] Summary

"Mycobacterium gilvum (previously referred to as Mycobacterium flavescens strain PYR-GCK) has been isolated in the sediment from the Grand Calumet River in Indiana as a strain capable of using pyrene as a sole source of carbon and energy. This strain was also capable of metabolizing such polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) as phenanthrene and fluoranthene, but not naphthalene, chrysene, anthracene, fluorene, or benzo[a]pyrene (Dean-Ross and Cerniglia, 1996). The first step of pyrene degradation is catalysed by the same two-subunit aromatic ring-hydroxylating dioxygenase NidAB as the one found in Mycobacterium vanbaalenii and other PAH-degrading mycobacteria (Brezna et al., 2003). Thus, M. gilvum probably differs from them in the downstream steps of PAH degradation, which now could be deduced through genome comparisons." (Galperin 2007:1871-1872)

About the inspiring organism

Mycobacterium gilvum
Mycobacterium gilvum Stanford and Gunthorpe 1971 (Approved Lists 1980)

Some organism data provided by: BIOS: Bacteriology Insight Orienting System
Organism/taxonomy data provided by:
Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2008 Annual Checklist

Bioinspired products and application ideas

Application Ideas: Bioremediation of mines, polluted sites, factories, smelters, tailings.

Industrial Sector(s) interested in this strategy: Bioremediation, waste treatment, pollution, environmental health

Experts

Department of Biology
Deborah Ross
Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne

Division of Microbiology
Carl E. Cerniglia
U.S. Food and Drug Administration National Center for Toxicological Research

References

Galperin, M.Y. 2007. Genomics against flatulence. Environmental Microbiology. 9(8): 1869-1877.

Enzyme breaks down hydrocarbons: bacteria

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