Proteomics of Sphingobium indicum B90A for a deeper understanding of hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) bioremediation

Abstract

Genome wide expression profiling of Sphingobium indicum B90A revealed induction of lin genes, linA and linB, involved in dechlorination of hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH), in the presence of all four isomers of HCH. Supporting proteomics data, the qPCR and promoter assay showed upregulation of linA transcription in the presence of HCH isomers. Analysis of the upstream region of the linA gene revealed the existence of the GntR binding site overlapping the -10 hexamer of the putative promoter motif. As GntR is a known transcription repressor its dissociation from the linA promoter is expected to induce lin genes in the presence of HCH isomers. Comparison of in situ and in-culture proteomics indicated expression lin genes at the dumpsite, an indication for the in situ HCH degradation.