Molecular mechanisms of fluorinated organic chemical metabolism in bacteria

细菌中含氟有机化学代谢的分子机制

• 批准号: RGPIN-2019-06428
• 负责人: VanHamme, Jonathan
• 金额: $ 3.64万
• 依托单位: Thompson Rivers University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2020-01-01 至 2021-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=716117
• 关键词: Molecular; mechanisms; fluorinated; organic; chemical

Since their introduction in the 1950s, fluorinated organic compounds have become pervasive in our environment. Thanks to their chemical and thermal stability, fluorinated chemicals are used to manufacture polymers found in an array of consumer products such as water and grease repellents, fire-fighting foams, and many others. Once believed to be safe, evidence is accumulating that some of these fluorinated chemicals exhibit toxic effects, and are difficult to biodegrade. This class of compound can be found in air, soil, water, groundwater, and bioaccumulate in humans and animals all around the world, even in the high Arctic. Recently, large quantities of fire-fighting foams were used during the Lac-Mégantic rail disaster, illustrating the importance of understanding the environmental fate of these compounds. The goal of this work is to study the microorganisms that have the capacity to convert these molecules into non-toxic products. To do this, we will examine the molecular biology of a soil bacterium that has shown activity against fluorinated sulfonates with the long-term goal of developing bioremediation tools through a better understanding of the ecological processes involved in the biodegradation of this class of chemicals. Currently, the majority of work in this field is focussed on detecting and measuring the quantities of fluorinated chemicals in humans, animals, and the environment. Further, much work is being done with monitoring the fate of fluorinated chemicals in sewage treatment facilities. This work is novel as we are unravelling the mechanisms behind metabolic pathways responsible for biodegradation of fluorinated compounds by a pure bacterial culture. Using genome sequencing-based approaches, we are developing tools to detect microorganisms in the environment that are able to biodegrade fluorinated organic compounds. This research is important for the development of tools to remediate contaminated environments, and to provide evidence to policymakers responsible for regulating the production and use of fluorinated chemicals.

自 20 世纪 50 年代推出以来，氟化有机化合物因其化学和热稳定性而在我们的环境中变得普遍，氟化化学品被用于制造一系列消费品中的聚合物，例如防水剂、防油剂、消防泡沫。等许多氟化物曾经被认为是安全的，但越来越多的证据表明，其中一些氟化物具有毒性，并且很难生物降解。世界各地的水、地下水和生物在人类和动物体内积累，甚至在北极地区也是如此，最近，在梅干蒂克湖铁路灾难期间使用了大量的消防泡沫，这说明了了解这些物质的环境命运的重要性。化合物。 这项工作的目标是研究有能力将这些分子转化为无毒产物的微生物。为此，我们将检查一种土壤细菌的分子生物学，该细菌具有长期的抗氟化磺酸盐活性。通过更好地了解此类化学品生物降解所涉及的生态过程来开发生物修复工具的目标。 目前，该领域的大部分工作集中在检测和测量人类、动物和环境中氟化化学品的数量，此外，还开展了大量监测污水处理设施中氟化化学品的情况的工作。这是新颖的，因为我们正在通过纯细菌培养物揭示负责氟化化合物生物降解的代谢途径背后的机制，我们正在开发能够检测环境中微生物的工具。这项研究对于开发修复污染环境的工具非常重要，并为负责监管氟化化学品生产和使用的政策制定者提供证据。