Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 30, 2026

Replication of the Ordered, Nonredundant Library of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PA14 Transposon Insertion Mutants
11:35

Replication of the Ordered, Nonredundant Library of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PA14 Transposon Insertion Mutants

Published on: May 4, 2018

Plasmid-mediated dimethoate degradation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa MCMB-427

N M Deshpande1, P K Dhakephalkar, P P Kanekar

  • 1Microbial Sciences Division, Agharkar Research Institute, G.G. Agharkar Road, Pune 411004, India.

Letters in Applied Microbiology
|September 18, 2001
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

The bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa MCMB-427 degrades the organophosphate insecticide dimethoate via a transferable plasmid. This plasmid-mediated biodegradation is a significant finding for bacterial genetics and pesticide management.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Environmental Science
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Dimethoate is a widely used synthetic organophosphate insecticide.
  • Understanding the microbial degradation pathways of pesticides is crucial for environmental remediation.
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa is known for its metabolic versatility.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the genetic basis of dimethoate degradation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa MCMB-427.
  • To identify the role of plasmids in this degradation process.

Main Methods:

  • Isolation and characterization of a plasmid from Pseudomonas aeruginosa MCMB-427.
  • Transformation of Escherichia coli with the isolated plasmid.
  • Plasmid curing experiments using plumbagin and ethidium bromide.
  • Assessment of dimethoate degradation ability in native and transformed strains.

Main Results:

  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa MCMB-427 possesses a 6.6 kbp plasmid (pDMD427) essential for dimethoate degradation.
  • Transfer of pDMD427 to Escherichia coli conferred dimethoate degradation ability.
  • Loss of the plasmid resulted in the loss of dimethoate degradation capacity.
  • The plasmid also carried genes for resistance to norfloxacin and cobalt.

Conclusions:

  • Dimethoate degradation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa MCMB-427 is mediated by a transferable plasmid.
  • This is the first report of plasmid-mediated dimethoate biodegradation.
  • The findings advance the understanding of bacterial pesticide degradation genetics.

More Related Videos

Generation of In-Frame Gene Deletion Mutants in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Testing for Virulence Attenuation in a Simple Mouse Model of Infection08:34

Generation of In-Frame Gene Deletion Mutants in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Testing for Virulence Attenuation in a Simple Mouse Model of Infection

Published on: January 8, 2020

FLIM-FRET Measurements of Protein-Protein Interactions in Live Bacteria.09:26

FLIM-FRET Measurements of Protein-Protein Interactions in Live Bacteria.

Published on: August 25, 2020

Related Concept Videos

Gene Regulation in Microbial Communities: Quorum Sensing01:28

Gene Regulation in Microbial Communities: Quorum Sensing

Quorum sensing is a mechanism of bacterial communication that enables coordinated gene expression in response to changes in population density. This facilitates collective behaviors that enhance survival, resource acquisition, and ecological adaptation. This process relies on small signaling molecules called autoinducers that accumulate as bacterial populations grow. When a critical threshold concentration of autoinducers is reached, bacterial cells collectively modify gene expression,...
Plasmids01:28

Plasmids

Plasmids are extrachromosomal DNA molecules found in bacteria, archaea, and some eukaryotic microbes like yeast. These small, circular DNA structures typically contain fewer than 30 genes, although some may exist linearly. Plasmids vary in their number within a cell, known as copy number. Single-copy plasmids are present in one copy per cell and multi-copy plasmids are present in multiple copies, reaching over 100 copies per cell.Plasmids usually replicate independently of the chromosomal DNA...
Microbial Bioremediation of Pesticides01:28

Microbial Bioremediation of Pesticides

Pesticides often feature structurally complex chemical architectures, incorporating halogen groups and multiple aromatic rings. These characteristics confer high chemical stability, rendering many pesticides resistant to natural degradation processes. This resistance poses significant environmental concerns, as persistent pesticide residues can accumulate in ecosystems and affect non-target organisms.Despite the inherent stability of many pesticides, certain microorganisms possess the metabolic...
Bioplastics01:27

Bioplastics

Bioplastics derived from microbial processes present a sustainable alternative to conventional petroleum-based plastics. Among these, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), particularly polyhydroxybutyrates (PHBs), have emerged as prominent candidates due to their biodegradability and biocompatibility. These polymers are synthesized by a variety of bacteria, such as Cupriavidus necator and Pseudomonas putida, which naturally accumulate PHAs as intracellular carbon and energy reserves, especially under...
Microbial Bioremediation of Plastics01:28

Microbial Bioremediation of Plastics

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a synthetic polymer widely utilized in the packaging industry, particularly for bottles and containers. Due to its chemical stability and durability, PET accumulates in the environment, contributing significantly to plastic pollution. It comprises repeating units of terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol, resulting in a semi-crystalline structure that is resistant to natural degradation processes.A notable breakthrough in plastic biodegradation came with the...