title: Ring-hydroxylating dioxygenase (RHD) expression in a microbial community during the early response to oil pollution.
abstract: The early functional response of a bacterial community from the sediments of a chronically oil-polluted retention basin located at the Etang de Berre (France) was investigated just after petroleum addition. After removing hydrocarbon compounds by natural abiotic and biotic processes, the sediments were maintained in microcosms and Vic Bilh petroleum was added. The diversity and the expression of genes encoding ring-hydroxylating dioxygenases (RHD) were examined just after the petroleum addition until 14 days focussing on the first hours following the contamination. RHD gene copy numbers and diversity were maintained throughout all the incubation period; however, transcripts were detected only during the first 2 days. One dominant RHD gene, immediately and specifically expressed in response to petroleum contamination, was related to RHD gene carried by a plasmid found in Pseudomonas spp. The expression of the RHD genes was correlated with high biodegradation levels observed for low molecular weight PAHs at 7 days of incubation. The study shows that the bacterial metabolism induced just after the oil input is a key stage that could determine the bacterial community structure changes. Monitoring the expression of RHD genes, key genes involved in hydrocarbon degradation, may provide useful information for managing bioremediation processes.
authors.affiliation: Equipe Environnement et Microbiologie, UMR CNRS IPREM 5254, Université de Pau, Pau Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Sandrine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Paissé
authors.forename: Marisol
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goñi-Urriza
authors.forename: Thibault
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Stalder
authors.forename: Thibault
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Stadler
authors.forename: Hélène
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Budzinski
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Duran
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D001483:Base Sequence; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D049308:Dioxygenases / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005602:France; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010578:Petroleum / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D059392:Petroleum Pollution; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D010578:Petroleum; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D049308:Dioxygenases