Improvement of bioremediation by Pseudomonas and Burkholderia by mutants of the Vitreoscilla hemoglobin gene (vgb) integrated into their chromosomes

• Published in: Journal of industrial microbiology & biotechnology Vol. 32; no. 4; pp. 148 - 154
• Main Authors: KIM, Yongsoon, WEBSTER, Dale A, STARK, Benjamin C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg Springer 01.04.2005; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Aeration; Bacteria; Bacterial Proteins - genetics; Bacterial Proteins - metabolism; Bacteriology; Benzoic Acid - metabolism; Biodegradation, Environmental; Biological and medical sciences; Bioremediation; Biotechnology; Burkholderia - genetics; Burkholderia - growth & development; Burkholderia - metabolism; Chromosomes; Chromosomes, Bacterial; Conjugation, Genetic; Dinitrobenzenes - metabolism; Dinitrotoluene; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genetic engineering; Genetic Engineering - methods; Hemoglobin; Hemoglobins - genetics; Hemoglobins - metabolism; Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; Mutation; Oxygen - pharmacology; Pseudomonas - genetics; Pseudomonas - growth & development; Pseudomonas - metabolism; Transformation, Genetic; Truncated Hemoglobins; Vitreoscilla - genetics; Vitreoscilla - metabolism; Pseudomonadales; Benzoic acid; Oxygen; Vitreoscilla; Bacterial hemoglobin·Benzoic acid; Chromosome; Pseudomonas; Optimization; Vitreoscillaceae; Gene; Dinitrotoluene; 2,4-Dinitrotoluene ·Oxygen affinity ·Vitreoscilla hemoglobin; Hemoglobin; Bacteria; Pseudomonadaceae; Affinity; Bioremediation; Burkholderia; Mutation
• ISSN: 1367-5435; 1476-5535
• DOI: 10.1007/s10295-005-0215-4

Using genetic engineering, the Vitreoscilla (bacterial) hemoglobin gene (vgb) was integrated stably into the chromosomes of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Burkholderia sp. strain DNT. This was done for both wild type vgb and two site-directed mutants of vgb that produce Vitreoscilla hemoglobin (VHb) with lowered oxygen affinities; in all cases functional VHb was expressed. Similar to previous results, the wild type VHb improved growth for both species and degradation of 2,4-dinitrotoluene (Burkholderia sp.) or benzoic acid (P. aeruginosa) under both normal and low aeration conditions. Both mutant vgbs enhanced these parameters compared to wild type vgb, and the improvement was seen in both species. The enhancements were generally greater at low aeration than at normal aeration. The results demonstrate the possibility that the positive effects provided by VHb may be augmented by protein engineering.