title: Metabolism of the aliphatic nitramine 4-nitro-2,4-diazabutanal by Methylobacterium sp. strain JS178.
abstract: The aliphatic nitramine 4-nitro-2,4-diazabutanal (NDAB; C2H5N3O3) is a ring cleavage metabolite that accumulates during the aerobic degradation of the energetic compound hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) by various Rhodococcus spp. NDAB is also produced during the alkaline hydrolysis of either RDX or octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine (HMX) and during the photolysis of RDX. Traces of NDAB were observed in a soil sampled from an ammunition-manufacturing facility contaminated with both HMX and RDX, suggesting natural attenuation. In this study, we report the isolation of a soil bacterium that is able to degrade NDAB under aerobic conditions. The isolate is a pink-pigmented facultative methylotroph affiliated with the genus Methylobacterium. The strain, named Methylobacterium sp. strain JS178, degrades NDAB as a sole nitrogen source, with concomitant growth and formation of 1 molar equivalent of nitrous oxide (N2O). Comparison of the growth yield of strain JS178 grown on NDAB, nitrite (NO2-), or ammonium (NH4+) as a nitrogen source revealed that 1 N equivalent is assimilated from each mole of NDAB, which completes the nitrogen mass balance. In radiotracer experiments, strain JS178 mineralized 1 C of the [14C]NDAB produced in situ from [14C]RDX by Rhodococcus sp. strain DN22. Studies on the regulation of NDAB degradation indicated that allantoin, an intermediate in the purine catabolic pathway and a central molecule in the storage and transport of nitrogen in plants, up-regulated the enzyme(s) involved in the degradation of the nitramine. The results reveal the potential for the sequential participation of rhodococci and methylobacteria to effect the complete degradation of RDX.
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Research Institute, National Research Council of Canada, 6100 Royalmount Ave., Montreal (Quebec) H4P 2R2, Canada.
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fournier
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Trott
authors.forename: Jalal
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hawari
authors.forename: Jim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Spain
mesh_terms: D000332:Aerobiosis; D000447:Aldehydes / Q000378:metabolism*; D000814:Aniline Compounds / Q000378:metabolism*; D001372:Aza Compounds / Q000378:metabolism*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D003470:Culture Media; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D020580:Methylobacterium / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009578:Nitrobenzenes / Q000378:metabolism*; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D009609:Nitrous Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D012240:Rhodococcus; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism; D014227:Triazines / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C485205:4-nitro-2,4-diazabutanal; D000447:Aldehydes; D000814:Aniline Compounds; D001372:Aza Compounds; D003470:Culture Media; D009578:Nitrobenzenes; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D014227:Triazines; C015384:nitramine; D009609:Nitrous Oxide; D009584:Nitrogen; C009160:cyclonite