Publication
PCR-DGGE method to assess the diversity of BTEX mono-oxygenase genes at contaminated sites
Hendrickx, B., Dejonghe, W., Faber, F., Boenne, W., Bastiaens, L., Verstraete, W., Top, EM. & Springael, D., Feb-2006, In : FEMS Microbial Ecology. 55, 2, p. 262-273 12 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
tmoA and related genes encode the alpha-subunit of the hydroxylase component of the major group (subgroup 1 of subfamily 2) of bacterial multicomponent mono-oxygenase enzyme complexes involved in aerobic benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene (BTEX) degradation. A PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) method was developed to assess the diversity of tmoA-like gene sequences in environmental samples using a newly designed moderately degenerate primer set suitable for that purpose. In 35 BTEX-degrading bacterial strains isolated from a hydrocarbon polluted aquifer, tmoA-like genes were only detected in two o-xylene degraders and were identical to the touA gene of Pseudomonas stutzeri OX1. The diversity of tmoA-like genes was examined in DNA extracts from contaminated and non-contaminated subsurface samples at a site containing a BTEX-contaminated groundwater plume. Differences in DGGE patterns were observed between strongly contaminated, less contaminated and non-contaminated samples and between different depths, suggesting that the diversity of tmoA-like genes was determined by environmental conditions including the contamination level. Phylogenetic analysis of the protein sequences deduced from the amplified amplicons showed that the diversity of TmoA-analogues in the environment is larger than suggested from described TmoA-analogues from cultured isolates, which was translated in the DGGE patterns. Although different positions on the DGGE gel can correspond to closely related TmoA-proteins, relationships could be noticed between the position of tmoA-like amplicons in the DGGE profile and the phylogenetic position of the deduced protein sequence.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 262-273 |
Number of pages | 12 |
Journal | FEMS Microbial Ecology |
Volume | 55 |
Issue number | 2 |
Publication status | Published - Feb-2006 |
- BTEX biodegradation, catabolic gene, tmoA, PCR detection, DGGE analysis, GRADIENT GEL-ELECTROPHORESIS, 16S RIBOSOMAL-RNA, CATECHOL 2,3-DIOXYGENASE GENE, AROMATIC-HYDROCARBONS, ENVIRONMENTAL-SAMPLES, TOLUENE DEGRADATION, FUNCTIONAL-ANALYSIS, PHENOL HYDROXYLASE, OXIDIZING BACTERIA, SOIL
Keywords
ID: 4404205