Involvement of a novel ABC transporter and monoalkyl phthalate ester hydrolase in phthalate ester catabolism by Rhodococcus jostii RHA1.
Phthalate esters (PEs) are important environmental pollutants. While the biodegradation of the parent compound, phthalate (PTH), is well characterized, the biodegradation of PEs is not well understood. In particular, prior to this study, genes involved in the uptake and hydrolysis of these compounds were not conclusively identified. We found that Rhodococcus jostii RHA1 could grow on a variety of monoalkyl PEs, including methyl, butyl, hexyl, and 2-ethylhexyl PTHs. Strain RHA1 could not grow on most dialkyl PEs, but suspensions of cells grown on PTH transformed dimethyl, diethyl, dipropyl, dibutyl, dihexyl and di-(2-ethylhexyl) PTHs. The major products of these dialkyl PEs were PTH and the corresponding monoalkyl PEs, and minor products resulted from the shortening of the alkyl side chains. RHA1 exhibited an inducible, ATP-dependent uptake system for PTH with a K(m) of 22 microM. The deletion and complementation of the patB gene demonstrated that the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter encoded by patDABC is required for the uptake of PTH and monoalkyl PEs by RHA1. The hydrolase encoded by patE of RHA1 was expressed in Escherichia coli. PatE specifically hydrolyzed monoalkyl PEs to PTH but did not transform dialkyl PEs or other aromatic esters. This investigation of RHA1 elucidates key processes that are consistent with the environmental fate of PEs.
Hara
Hirofumi
H
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada.
Stewart
Gordon R
GR
Mohn
William W
WW
D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / Q000378:metabolism*; D002265:Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D004952:Esters / Q000378:metabolism; D017353:Gene Deletion; D015870:Gene Expression; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D010795:Phthalic Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D012240:Rhodococcus / Q000378:metabolism*
D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D004952:Esters; D010795:Phthalic Acids; C032279:phthalic acid; D002265:Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases; C033216:phthalate ester hydrolase