Details of Award
NERC Reference : NER/T/S/2003/00713
Characterisation of novel methyl bromide degrading bacteria and assessment of their potential as biocatalysts.
Grant Award
- Principal Investigator:
- Professor JC Murrell, University of Warwick, Biological Sciences
- Co-Investigator:
- Professor PD Nightingale, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Plymouth Marine Lab
- Grant held at:
- University of Warwick, Biological Sciences
- Science Area:
- Marine
- Overall Classification:
- Marine
- ENRIs:
- Pollution and Waste
- Natural Resource Management
- Global Change
- Biodiversity
- Science Topics:
- Environmental Microbiology
- Environmental biotechnology
- Abstract:
- Methyl bromide (MeBr) is an ozone-depleting atmospheric gas that is both produced and consumed in the marine environment. We have recently isolated a number of novel MeBr-degrading bacteria from the marine environment. These bacteria grow on MeBr and related compounds such as methyl chloride and preliminary investigations suggest that the initial step in degradation of MeBr occurs via novel methyltransferase enzymes. Very little is known about the exact role of microorganisms in cycling of methyl halides in the environment and our knowledge of the mechanisms of methyl halide degradation is at present limited to methyltransferases described in extant terrestrial strains of methyl chloride utilising bacteria. In order to gain a better understanding of the biological mechanisms for the breakdown of MeBr in the environment, we propose to characterise these new MeBr utilising bacteria at the physiological, biochemical and molecular level. In particular we will focus on the methyltransferase enzymes they contain and examine the biocatalytic properties of these enzymes with respect to a wide range of halogenated compounds in order to assess their potential for development of commercial biotransformation processes using whole cells of MeBr utilising bacteria. The results obtained will provide essential baseline physiological, biochemical and molecular biological data on a portfolio of novel marine bacteria in order to determine if these types of bacteria can be exploited as biocatalysts. We will use both biochemical and molecular biological techniques to characterise the initial steps in MeBr degradation pathways. Methyltransferases and related enzymes will be identified by the use of in-house proteomics facilities. The biotransformation potential of our portfolio of 14 strains of MeBr utilisers will be assessed using a wide range of halogenated substrates in oxygen electrode and gas chromatography experiments. If time permits, we will clone the genes encoding the most versatile methyltransferase enzymes from selected MeBr utilisers and attempt to express them in heterologous hosts such as E. coil in order to generate large amounts of useful biocatalysts.
- NERC Reference:
- NER/T/S/2003/00713
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- Directed Pre FEC
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- Marine & Freshwater Microbial
This grant award has a total value of £30,598
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| Total - Staff | Total - T&S | Total - Other Costs | Total - Indirect Costs |
|---|---|---|---|
| £15,415 | £1,430 | £6,663 | £7,091 |
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