Published in Scientific Bulletin. Series F. Biotechnologies, Vol. XXI
Written by Mihaela Marilena STANCU
Written by Mihaela Marilena STANCU
Polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are major environmental pollutants, which are well known for their toxic effects on the organisms. However, different Pseudomonas strains are able to use these toxic compounds as growth substrate. Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain IBBPo16 was able to grow on nutrient-rich and minimal media in the presence of several toxic PAHs, such as naphthalene, methylnaphthalene, phenanthrene, fluorene. P. aeruginosa IBBPo16 cells exhibited a higher growth when they were inoculated on nutrient-rich medium in the presence of PAHs, as compared with growth on minimal medium. Naphthalene was less toxic for P. aeruginosa IBBPo16 cells, compared with methylnaphthalene, phenanthrene, and fluorene. P. aeruginosa IBBPo16 cells grown in the presence of PAHs produced specific extracellular secondary metabolites (i.e., surfactants, pigments). P. aeruginosa IBBPo16 cells grown in the presence of naphthalene possess ndoM (naphthalene dioxygenase) and rhlAB (rhamnosyltransferase 1) genes, whereas C23DO (catechol 2,3-dioxygenase) and pahDO (PAH dioxygenase) genes were not detected in this Gram-negative bacterium.
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