[Molecular biological characterization of biphenyl-degrading bacteria and identification of the biphenyl 2,3-dioxygenase α-subunit genes].

Bacterial isolates from soils contaminated with (chlorinated) aromatic compounds, which degraded biphenyl/chlorinated biphenyls (CB) and belonged to the genera Rhodococcus and Pseudomonas were studied. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences was used to determine the phylogenetic position of the isolates. The Rhodococcus cells were found to contain plasmids of high molecular mass (220-680 kbp). PCR screening for the presence of the bphA1 gene, a marker indicating the possibility for induction of 2,3-dioxygenase (biphenyl/toluene dioxygenase subfamily) revealed the presence of the bphAl genes with 99-100% similarity to the homologous genes of bacteria of the relevant species in all pseudomonad and most Rhodococcus isolates. A unique bphA1 gene, which had not been previously reported for the genus, was identified in Rhodococcus sp. G10. The absence of specific amplification of the bphA1 genes in some biphenyl-degrading bacteria (Rhodococcus sp. B7b, B106a, G12a, P2kr, P2(51), and P2m), as well as in an active biphenyl degrader Rhodococcus ruber P25 indicated the absence of the genes encoding the proteins of the biphenyl/toluene dioxygenase subfamily and participation of the enzymes other than this protein family in biphenyl/CB degradation.

[Destruction of aromatic hydrocarbons by the Rhodococcus wratislaviensis KT112-7 strain isolated from waste products of a salt-mining factory].

The destruction of aromatic hydrocarbons by the Rhodococcus wratislaviensis KT112-7 strain isolated from technogenic mineral waste products of the BKRU1 Uralkalii factory has been investigated (city of Berezniki, Perm krai). The R. wratislaviensis KT112-7 was shown to utilize increased concentrations of ophthalic (o-PA) (8 g/L) and benzoic (BA) (3.4 g/L) acids. The strain grows with o-FA, BA, and biphenyl at a NaCl content of up to 50, 90, and 75 g/L in the culture medium, respectively. Based on an analysis of the metabolic profile and nucleotide sequences of the bphA1, benA, and phtB genes, the KT112-7 strain was established to decompose o-PA via the formation of 3,4-dihydroxyphthalic and 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acids. The decomposition of biphenyl is carried out via the formation of BA and then at low concentrations of NaCl (up to 50 g/L) via the formation of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid followed by its oxidation; at high concentrations of NaCl (over 60 g/L), via the direct oxidation of benzoic acid with the production of catechol. These data indicate that the Rhodococcus wratislaviensis KT112-7 destructor strain is a promising strain for the development of new biotechnologies directed at the utilization (transformation) of aromatic compounds, including under the conditions of increased mineralization.