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Molecular diversity and distribution of aromatic hydrocarbon‐degrading anaerobes across a landfill leachate plume
Author(s) -
Staats Martijn,
Braster Martin,
Röling Wilfred F.M.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
environmental microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.954
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1462-2920
pISSN - 1462-2912
DOI - 10.1111/j.1462-2920.2010.02421.x
Subject(s) - bama , biology , environmental chemistry , toluene , deltaproteobacteria , gene , biochemistry , chemistry , 16s ribosomal rna , gammaproteobacteria , organic chemistry , escherichia coli , bacterial outer membrane
Summary Natural attenuation of the mono‐aromates benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene occurs under iron‐reducing conditions in a leachate‐contaminated aquifer near the Banisveld landfill, the Netherlands. The diversity of mono‐aromate‐degrading microorganisms was studied by targeting functional genes encoding benzylsuccinate synthase α‐subunit ( bssA ) and 6‐oxocyclohex‐1‐ene‐1‐carbonyl‐CoA hydrolase ( bamA ). Sixty‐four bssA and 188 bamA variants were sequenced from groundwater sampled along the pollution plume in 1999 and 2004. Species containing bssA sequences closest affiliated (> 91%) with the betaprotebacterium Georgfuchsia toluolica were the dominant alkylbenzene degraders (89% of bssA sequences). bssA genes were found at more than 10‐fold lower copy numbers than bamA genes, of which only a small fraction (< 2%) was closely related to the genes of Georgfuchsia . bamA gene diversity was high and bamA ‐based community composition was primarily affected by dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and ferrous iron concentrations. bamA sequences closest related to Geobacteraceae were dominantly (43.2%) observed and the presence of Geobacteraceae ‐related bamA sequences was associated with DOC. Our results indicate a key role for specialized Georgfuchsia spp. in the degradation of alkylbenzenes, whereas Geobacteraceae are involved in degradation of aromatics other than toluene and xylene.