Molecular evidence of genetic modification of Sinorhizobium meliloti: enhanced PCB bioremediation

The genome of the nitrogen-fixing soil bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti does not possess genes for bioremediation of aromatic pollutants. It has the well-known ability to interact specifically with the leguminous alfalfa plant, Medicago sativa. Our previous work has shown enhanced degradation of the nitroaromatic compound 2,4-dinitrotoluene (DNT) when a plasmid containing degradative genes was introduced in it. In this study we report molecular evidence of the transfer of a polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)-biodegradative plasmid pE43 to S. meliloti strain USDA 1936. Several standard analytical tests and plant growth chamber studies were conducted to test the ability of S. meliloti to degrade 2',3,4-PCB congener. Alfalfa plant alone was able to degrade 30% of PCBs compared with control. No enhanced dechlorination was noted when alfalfa plant was grown with wild-type S. meliloti, and when alfalfa plant was grown with the S. meliloti electrotransformants (genetically modified) dechlorination of PCBs was more than twice that when alfalfa plant was grown with wild-type S. meliloti. When alfalfa plant was grown with uncharacterized mixed culture (containing nodule formers), almost equally significant PCB degradation was observed. The significance of this work is that the naturally occurring nitrogen-fixing soil bacterium S. meliloti (genetically modified) has the ability to enhance fertility of soil in association with the leguminous alfalfa plant while simultaneously enhancing bioremediation of PCB-contaminated soils. Enhanced bioremediation of PCB and robust alfalfa plant growth was also noted when uncharacterized mixed cultures containing alfalfa plant nodule formers were used.