Open AccessIsolation and characterization marine bacteria capable of degrading lignin-derived compounds
Author(s) -
Peng Lu,
Weinan Wang,
Guangxi Zhang,
Wen Li,
Anjie Jiang,
Mengjiao Cao,
Xiaoyan Zhang,
Ke Xing,
Xue Peng,
Bo Yuan,
Zhaozhong Feng
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0240187
Subject(s) - vanillic acid , ferulic acid , lignin , halomonas , bacteria , biology , syringic acid , benzoic acid , protocatechuic acid , arthrobacter , botany , food science , biochemistry , chemistry , 16s ribosomal rna , genetics , gallic acid , antioxidant
Lignin, a characteristic component of terrestrial plants. Rivers transport large amounts of vascular plant organic matter into the oceans where lignin can degrade over time; however, microorganisms involved in this degradation have not been identified. In this study, several bacterial strains were isolated from marine samples using the lignin-derived compound vanillic acid (4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzoic acid) as the sole carbon and energy source. The optimum growth temperature for all isolates ranged from 30 to 35°C. All isolates grew well in a wide NaCl concentration range of 0 to over 50 g/L, with an optimum concentration of 22.8 g/L, which is the same as natural seawater. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that these strains are the members of Halomonas , Arthrobacter , Pseudoalteromonas , Marinomonas , and Thalassospira . These isolates are also able to use other lignin-derived compounds, such as 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, ferulic acid, syringic acid, and benzoic acid. Vanillic acid was detected in all culture media when isolates were grown on ferulic acid as the sole carbon source; however, no 4-hydroxy-3-methoxystyrene was detected, indicating that ferulic acid metabolism by these strains occurs via the elimination of two side chain carbons. Furthermore, the isolates exhibit 3,4-dioxygenase or 4,5-dioxygenase activity for protocatechuic acid ring-cleavage, which is consistent with the genetic sequences of related genera. This study was conducted to isolate and characterize marine bacteria of degrading lignin-derived compounds, thereby revealing the degradation of aromatic compounds in the marine environment and opening up new avenues for the development and utilization of marine biological resources.