Development of an autofluorescent whole-cell biocatalyst by displaying dual functional moieties on Escherichia coli cell surfaces and construction of a coculture with organophosphate-mineralizing activity

Appl Environ Microbiol. 2008 Dec;74(24):7733-9. doi: 10.1128/AEM.01936-08. Epub 2008 Oct 24.

Abstract

Surface display of the active proteins on living cells has enormous potential in the degradation of numerous toxic compounds. Here, we report the codisplay of organophosphorus hydrolase (OPH) and enhanced green fluorescent protein (GFP) on the cell surface of Escherichia coli by use of the truncated ice nucleation protein (INPNC) and Lpp-OmpA fusion systems. The surface localization of both INPNC-OPH and Lpp-OmpA-GFP was demonstrated by Western blot analysis, immunofluorescence microscopy, and a protease accessibility experiment. Anchorage of GFP and OPH on the outer membrane neither inhibits cell growth nor affects cell viability, as shown by growth kinetics of cells and stability of resting cultures. The engineered E. coli can be applied in the form of a whole-cell biocatalyst and can be tracked by fluorescence during bioremediation. This strategy of codisplay should open a new dimension for the display of multiple functional moieties on the surface of a bacterial cell. Furthermore, a coculture comprised of the engineered E. coli and a natural p-nitrophenol (PNP) degrader, Ochrobactrum sp. strain LL-1, was assembled for complete mineralization of organophosphates (OPs) with a PNP substitution. The coculture degraded OPs as well as PNP rapidly. Therefore, the coculture with autofluorescent and mineralizing activities can potentially be applied for bioremediation of OP-contaminated sites.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aryldialkylphosphatase / genetics
  • Aryldialkylphosphatase / metabolism*
  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Blotting, Western
  • Coculture Techniques
  • Enzymes / genetics
  • Enzymes / metabolism*
  • Escherichia coli / chemistry
  • Escherichia coli / genetics
  • Escherichia coli / growth & development
  • Escherichia coli / metabolism*
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / genetics
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / metabolism
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / genetics
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / metabolism*
  • Microbial Viability
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Nitrophenols / metabolism
  • Ochrobactrum / genetics
  • Ochrobactrum / metabolism
  • Organophosphates / metabolism*
  • Peptide Hydrolases / metabolism
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / genetics
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA

Substances

  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins
  • Enzymes
  • Escherichia coli Proteins
  • Nitrophenols
  • Organophosphates
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • enhanced green fluorescent protein
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Aryldialkylphosphatase
  • Peptide Hydrolases
  • 4-nitrophenol

Associated data

  • GENBANK/EU098001