title: Frequency of genes in aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbon biodegradation pathways within bacterial populations from Alaskan sediments.
abstract: A significant proportion of the naturally occurring hydrocarbon-degrading populations within Alaskan sediments affected by the Exxon Valdez oil spill had both the xylE and alkB genes and could convert hexadecane and naphthalene to carbon dioxide; a greater proportion of the population had xylE than had alkB, reflecting the composition of the residual oil at the time of sampling; nearly equal populations with xylE alone, alkB alone, and xylE + alkB genes together were found after exposure to fresh crude oil; populations with xylE lacking alkB increased after enrichment on naphthalene. Thus, the genotypes of hydrocarbon-degrading populations reflected the composition of the hydrocarbons to which they were exposed.
authors: Department of Biology, University of Louisville, KY 40292.
authors: J B
authors: JB
authors: Sotsky
authors: C W
authors: CW
authors: Greer
authors: R M
authors: RM
authors: Atlas
mesh_terms: D000413:Alaska; D000473:Alkanes / Q000378:metabolism*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D050557:Catechol 2,3-Dioxygenase; D015342:DNA Probes; D049308:Dioxygenases; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D005838:Genotype; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D009281:Naphthalenes / Q000378:metabolism*; D009821:Oils; D010105:Oxygenases / Q000235:genetics; D012987:Soil; D014871:Water Microbiology; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical
chemical_list: D000473:Alkanes; D015342:DNA Probes; D009281:Naphthalenes; D009821:Oils; D012987:Soil; C031721:naphthalene; D010105:Oxygenases; D049308:Dioxygenases; D050557:Catechol 2,3-Dioxygenase; C007932:n-hexadecane