Abstract
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a family of xenobiotic compounds that are ubiquitous and oftentimes persistent environmental pollutants. As such, PCBs are a common target of sediment remediation efforts. Microbial degradation of sediment pollutants such as PCBs offers an environmentally sound and economically favorable alternative to conventional means of remediation such as dredging. This project describes the development of a PCR-based assay to determine the potential for PCB bioremediation by the resident microbial consortium in contaminated sediments. Using PCR and RT-PCR of DNA and RNA, respectively, extracted from aquatic sediments collected from the western basin of Lake Erie and one of its tributaries, we were able to amplify the bphA1 gene that encodes the large subunit of biphenyl dioxygenase. Since other studies have determined that the BphA1 gene product dictates PCB congener specificity, this assay may prove to be a useful screen for endemic catabolic activities for PCB mixtures in aquatic sediments.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abramowicz, D. A., 1994. Aerobic PCB biodegradation and anaerobic PCB dechlorination in the environment. Res. Microbiol. 145: 43–46.
Ahmed, M. & D. D. Focht, 1973. Degradation of polychlorinated biphenyls by two species of Achromobacter. Can. J. Microbiol. 19: 47–52.
Alexander, M., 1994. Biodegradation and Bioremediation. Academic Press, San Diego: 302 pp.
Bedard, D. L., R. Unterman, L. H. Bopp, M. J. Brennan, M. L. Haberl & C. Johnson, 1986. Rapid assay for screening and characterizing microorganisms for the ability to degrade polychlorinated biphenyls. Appl. envir. Microbiol. 51: 761–768.
Brown, J. F. Jr., D. L. Bedard, M. J. Brennan, J. C. Carnahan, H. Feng & R. E. Wagner, 1987. Polychlorinated biphenyl dechlorination in aquatic sediments. Science 236: 709–712.
Chiarenzelli, J., R. Scrudato, B. Bush, D. Carpenter & S. Bushart, 1998. Do large-scale remedial and dredging events have the potential to release significant amounts of semivolatile compounds to the atmosphere? Environ. Health Perspect. 106: 47–49.
Colwell, R. R., 1994. Scientific foundation of bioremediation and gaps remaining to be filled. Res. Microbiol. 145: 40–41.
Erickson, B. & F. Mondello, 1993. Enhanced biodegradation of polychlorinated biphenyls after site-directed mutagenesis of a biphenyl dioxygenase gene. Appl. envir. Microbiol. 59: 3858–3862.
Fox, R. & M. Tuchman, 1996. The assessment and remediation of contaminated sediments (ARCS) program. J. Great Lakes Res. 22: 493–494.
Kimura, N., K. Nishi, M. Goto & K. Furukawa, 1997. Functional analysis of a variety of chimeric dioxygenases constructed from two biphenyl dioxygenases that are similar structurally but different functionally. J. Bacteriol. 179: 3936–3943.
Kumamaru, T., H. Suenaga, M. Mitsuoka, T. Watanabe & K. Furukawa, 1998. Enhanced degradation of polychlorinated biphenyls by directed evolution of biphenyl dioxygenase. Nat. Biotech. 16: 663–666.
McGinnis, R. D., 1998. The unnamed tributary to the Ottawa River from beginning to end. Profiling the Ottawa River III. Maumee River Remedial Action Plan, Toledo, OH.
Mondello, F. J., M. P. Turcich, J. H. Lobos & B. D. Erickson, 1997. Identification and modification of biphenyl dioxygenase sequences that determine the specificity of polychlorinated biphenyl degradation. Appl. envir. Microbiol. 63: 3096–3103.
Moran, M. A., V. L. Torsvik, T. Torsvik & R. E. Hodson, 1993. Direct extraction and purification of rRNA for ecological studies. Appl. envir. Microbiol. 59: 915–918.
Muyzer, G. & K. Smalla, 1998. Application of denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and temperature gradient gel electrophoresis (TGGE) inmicrobial ecology. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, 73: 127–141.
Muyzer, G., E. C. De Waal & A. G. Uitterlinden, 1993. Profiling of complex microbial populations by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis of polymerase chain reaction-amplified genes coding for 16S rRNA. Appl. envir. Microbiol. 59: 695–700.
Myers, R. M., V. C. Sheffield & D. R. Cox, 1988. Detection of single base changes in DNA: ribonuclease cleavage and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. In Davies, K. E. (ed.), Genome Analysis: A Practical Approach. IRL Press, Oxford, U.K.: 94–139.
Ohio EPA, 1994. Ottawa River sediment screening survey — quality assurance project plan; field analysis activities. Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Division of Emergence and Remedial Response, Bowling Green, OH.
Quensen, J. F. III, J. M. Tiedje & S. E. Boyd, 1988. Reductive dechlorination of polychlorinated biphenyls in anaerobic micro-organisms fom sediments. Science 242: 752–754.
Rhee, G. Y. & R. C. Sokol, 1994. The fate of polychlorinated biphenyls in aquatic sediments. Great Lakes Res. Rev. 1: 23–28.
Sambrook, J., E. F. Fritsch & T. Maniatis, 1989. Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press.
Sheffield, V. C., D. R. Cox, L. S. Lerman & R. M. Myers, 1989. Attachment of a 40-base-pair G+C-rich sequence (GC-clamp) to genomic DNA fragments by the polymerase chain reaction results in improved detection of single-base changes. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 86: 232–236.
Sheffield, V. C., J. S. Beck & E. M. Stone, 1992. A simple and efficient method for attachment of a 40-base pair, GC-rich sequence to PCR-amplified DNA. BioTechniques 12: 386–387.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hoostal, M.J., Bullerjahn, G.S. & McKay, R.M.L. Molecular assessment of the potential for in situ bioremediation of PCBs from aquatic sediments. Hydrobiologia 469, 59–65 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1015519409533
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1015519409533