Isolation and characterization of a rhodococcus species strain able to grow on ortho- and para-xylene.
Rhodococcus sp. strain YU6 was isolated from soil for the ability to grow on o-xylene as the sole carbon and energy source. Unlike most other o-xylene-degrading bacteria, YU6 is able to grow on p-xylene. Numerous growth substrate range experiments, in addition to the ring-cleavage enzyme assay data, suggest that YU6 initially metabolizes o- and p-xylene by direct aromatic ring oxidation. This leads to the formation of dimethylcatechols, which was further degraded largely through meta-cleavage pathway. The gene encoding meta-cleavage dioxygenase enzyme was PCR cloned from genomic YU6 DNA using previously known gene sequence data from the o-xylene-degrading Rhodococcus sp. strain DK17. Subsequent sequencing of the 918-bp PCR product revealed a 98% identity to the gene, encoding methylcatechol 2,3-dioxygenase from DK17. PFGE analysis followed by Southern hybridization with the catechol 2,3-dioxygenase gene demonstrated that the gene is located on an approximately 560-kb megaplasmid, designated pJYJ1.
Jang
Jung Yeon
JY
Department of Biology, Yonsei University, Seoul 120-749, Republic of Korea.
Kim
Dockyu
D
Bae
Hyun Won
HW
Choi
Ki Young
KY
Chae
Jong-Chan
JC
Zylstra
Gerben J
GJ
Kim
Young Min
YM
Kim
Eungbin
E
D015139:Blotting, Southern; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D049308:Dioxygenases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; D004790:Enzyme Induction; D016680:Genome, Bacterial; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012240:Rhodococcus / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D014992:Xylenes / Q000378:metabolism*
D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D014992:Xylenes; C031286:4-xylene; D049308:Dioxygenases; C026114:2-xylene