| Title | Molecular Detection of Catabolic Genes for Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in the Reed Rhizosphere of Sunchon Bay |
|---|---|
| Author | Hyung-Yeel Kahng* and Kye-Heon Oh1 |
| Address | *Department of Environmental Education, Sunchon National University, 315 Maegok-dong, Suncheon 540-742, Republic of Korea, 1Department of Life Science, Soonchunhyang University, P.O.Box 97, Asan, Chung-Nam 336-600, Republic of Korea |
| Bibliography | Journal of Microbiology, 43(6),572-576, 2005, |
| DOI | |
| Key Words | catabolic genes, PAH degradation, reed rhizosphere, Sunchon Bay |
| Abstract | This study focused on detecting catabolic genes for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) distributed in the reed rhizosphere of Sunchon Bay, Korea. These marsh and mud environments were severely affected by human activities, including agriculture and fisheries. Our previous study on microbial roles in natural decontamination displayed the possibility that PAH-degrading bacteria, such as Achromobacter sp., Alcaligenes sp., Burkholderia sp. and Pseudomonas sp. play an important decontamination role in a reed rhizosphere. In order to gain further fundamental knowledge on the natural decontamination process, catabolic genes for PAH metabolism were investigated through PCR amplification of dioxygenase genes using soil genomic DNA and sequencing. Comparative analysis of predicted amino acid sequences from 50 randomly selected dioxygenase clones capable of hydroxylating inactivated aromatic nuclei indicated that these were divided into three groups, two of which might be originated from PAH-degrading bacteria. Amino acid sequences of each dioxygenase clone were a part of the genes encoding enzymes for initial catabolism of naphthalene, phenanthrene, or pyrene that might be originated from bacteria in the reed rhizosphere of Sunchon Bay. |
| Download PDF | 572-576.pdf |