title: Pyruvic oxime nitrification and copper and nickel resistance by a Cupriavidus pauculus, an active heterotrophic nitrifier-denitrifier.
abstract: Heterotrophic nitrifiers synthesize nitrogenous gasses when nitrifying ammonium ion. A Cupriavidus pauculus, previously thought an Alcaligenes sp. and noted as an active heterotrophic nitrifier-denitrifier, was examined for its ability to produce nitrogen gas (N2) and nitrous oxide (N2O) while heterotrophically nitrifying the organic substrate pyruvic oxime [CH3-C(NOH)-COOH]. Neither N2 nor N2O were produced. Nucleotide and phylogenetic analyses indicated that the organism is a member of a genus (Cupriavidus) known for its resistance to metals and its metabolism of xenobiotics. The microbe (a Cupriavidus pauculus designated as C. pauculus strain UM1) was examined for its ability to perform heterotrophic nitrification in the presence of Cu(2+) and Ni(2+) and to metabolize the xenobiotic phenol. The bacterium heterotrophically nitrified well when either 1 mM Cu(2+) or 0.5 mM Ni(2+) was present in either enriched or minimal medium. The organism also used phenol as a sole carbon source in either the presence or absence of 1 mM Cu(2+) or 0.5 mM Ni(2+). The ability of this isolate to perform a number of different metabolisms, its noteworthy resistance to copper and nickel, and its potential use as a bioremediation agent are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Loyola University of Chicago, 1032 West Sheridan Road, Chicago, IL 60626, USA.
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-9157-0935
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ramirez
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Loyola University of Chicago, 1032 West Sheridan Road, Chicago, IL 60626, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-6419-042X
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Obrzydowski
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Loyola University of Chicago, 1032 West Sheridan Road, Chicago, IL 60626, USA.
authors.forename: Mary
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-6937-5201
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ayers
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Loyola University of Chicago, 1032 West Sheridan Road, Chicago, IL 60626, USA.
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-0287-1761
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Virparia
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Loyola University of Chicago, 1032 West Sheridan Road, Chicago, IL 60626, USA.
authors.forename: Meijing
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-0766-3056
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Loyola University of Chicago, 1032 West Sheridan Road, Chicago, IL 60626, USA.
authors.forename: Kurtis
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-1923-7812
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Stefan
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Loyola University of Chicago, 1032 West Sheridan Road, Chicago, IL 60626, USA.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Linchangco
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Loyola University of Chicago, 1032 West Sheridan Road, Chicago, IL 60626, USA.
authors.forename: Domenic
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-9415-5932
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Castignetti
mesh_terms: D003300:Copper / Q000633:toxicity*; D049921:Cupriavidus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D058440:Denitrification / Q000187:drug effects*; D052836:Heterotrophic Processes / Q000187:drug effects*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009532:Nickel / Q000633:toxicity*; D058465:Nitrification / Q000187:drug effects*; D010802:Phylogeny; D011422:Propionates / Q000378:metabolism*; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D011422:Propionates; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; C003014:pyruvatoxime; D003300:Copper; D009532:Nickel