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Published on: June 8, 2011
Phosphonate utilization by bacterial cultures and enrichments from environmental samples
1Laboratory of Microbial Ecology, State University of Ghent, Belgium.
Applied and Environmental Microbiology
|April 1, 1990
Summary
Bacteria can degrade various natural and synthetic phosphonates, using them as a phosphorus source. This study reveals the widespread presence and diverse capabilities of phosphonate-degrading bacteria, including novel C-P bond cleavage by a photosynthetic bacterium.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Environmental Science
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Phosphonates are organophosphorus compounds vital in various industrial applications.
- Understanding microbial phosphonate utilization is crucial for environmental remediation and biogeochemical cycling.
- Limited information exists on the degradation of complex xenobiotic phosphonates by microorganisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the ability of diverse microbial strains and environmental samples to utilize natural and xenobiotic phosphonates as a sole phosphorus source.
- To identify bacteria capable of cleaving the carbon-phosphorus (C-P) bond in phosphonates.
- To assess the prevalence and diversity of phosphonate-degrading bacteria in various environments.
Main Methods:
- Culturing axenic microbial strains and environmental samples with various phosphonates as the sole phosphorus source.
- Monitoring bacterial growth to determine phosphonate utilization.
- Analyzing C-P bond cleavage through phosphonate P utilization measurements.
- Identifying specific bacterial strains, including photosynthetic bacteria, capable of phosphonate degradation.
Main Results:
- Bacterial, but not eukaryotic, microorganisms demonstrated phosphonate degradation capabilities.
- Most tested phosphonates supported bacterial growth, except methylphosphonate diethylester.
- Rhodobacter capsulatus, a photosynthetic bacterium, achieved C-P bond cleavage, utilizing 2-aminoethylphosphonate and alkylphosphonates.
- Bacteria capable of utilizing components of xenobiotic phosphonates (Dequest 2010, 2041, 2060) were widespread in environmental samples.
- High percentages of phosphonate P utilization (94-97%) for Dequest 2010 and 2041 indicated complete C-P bond breakdown by certain bacteria.
Conclusions:
- Phosphonate-utilizing bacteria are ubiquitous in the environment.
- Selected bacterial strains possess the capability to degrade complex phosphonates previously undescribed.
- The discovery of C-P bond cleavage in photosynthetic bacteria expands our understanding of microbial metabolism and phosphonate biogeochemistry.
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