Biodegradation of p-nitrophenol by Rhodococcus sp. 21391 unveils a two-component p-nitrophenol monooxygenase with broad substrate specificity
Abstract Background Bioremediation relying on highly efficient degrading bacteria constitutes a promising and sustainable avenue for controlling and reducing nitrophenol contamination in the environment. A thorough understanding of the bacterial degradation mechanism of nitrophenol is of paramount i...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Microbial Cell Factories |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12934-025-02712-1 |
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| Summary: | Abstract Background Bioremediation relying on highly efficient degrading bacteria constitutes a promising and sustainable avenue for controlling and reducing nitrophenol contamination in the environment. A thorough understanding of the bacterial degradation mechanism of nitrophenol is of paramount importance for supporting the development of efficient microbial remediation technology. Results In this study, a new bacterium, Rhodococcus sp. 21391, endowed with superior p-nitrophenol (PNP) degradation ability was obtained. Genomic and comparative proteomic analyses revealed that it utilizes the 1,2,4-benzenetriol (BT) pathway for PNP degradation. The catalytic properties of the two-component p-nitrophenol monooxygenase RsNcpAB from the strain were investigated in vitro. The enzyme exhibited a broad substrate selectivity, catalyzing the oxidation of various nitrophenols and halogenated phenols, with significant potential for further research and development. Additionally, the crystal structure of the oxidative component of p-nitrophenol monooxygenase, RsNcpA, was determined. Structural analysis and site-directed mutagenesis revealed that residues Arg100 and His293 in the active site play a crucial role in enzyme catalysis, and a catalytic mechanism model was subsequently proposed. Conclusions This study reports a high-performance nitrophenol-degrading bacterium and enzyme, and reveals their mechanisms at the molecular level. These findings increase the understanding of the bacterial degradation of nitrophenol, thereby providing a crucial foundation for the development of efficient bioremediation technologies. Graphical Abstract |
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| ISSN: | 1475-2859 |