Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Mining of genomic databases to identify novel biodesulfurizing microorganisms

  • Short Communication
  • Published:
Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology

Abstract

The commercialization of the biocatalytic desulfurization process does not seem to be realistic in the near future because of the low desulfurization rate of the known microorganisms. Hence, the future development will depend on either genetically modifying the currently available bacteria or identifying novel biodesulfurizers. In this study an in silico method to identify new biodesulfurizing microorganisms was adopted. By screening the available genomic databases, 13 novel desulfurizing microorganisms belonging to 12 genera were identified. Several of these could be of immense utility as they have both environment pollutant and industrial waste degrading capability.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

References

  1. Mohebali G, Ball AS (2008) Biocatalytic desulfurization (BDS) of petrodiesel fuels. Microbiology 154:2169–2183

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Swaty TE (2005) Global refining industry trends: the present and future. Hydrocarb Process 84:35–46

    Google Scholar 

  3. Bhatia S, Sharma DK (2006) Emerging role of biorefining of heavier crude oils and integration of biorefining with petroleum refineries in future. Petrol Sci Technol 24:1125–1159

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Kobayashi M, Onaka T, Ishii Y, Konishi J, Takaki M, Okada H, Ohta Y, Koizumi K, Suzuki M (2000) Desulfurization of alkylated forms of both dibenzothiophene and benzothiophene by a single bacterial strain. FEMS Microbiol Lett 187:151–154

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Matsui T, Onaka T, Maruhashi K, Kurane R (2001) Benzothiophene desulfurization by Gordonia rubropertinctus strain T08. Appl Microbio Biotech 57:212–215

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Gallagher JR, Olson ES, Stanley DC (1993) Microbial desulphurization of dibenzothiophene: a sulfur-specific pathway. FEMS Microbiol Lett 107:31–36

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Monticello DJ (2000) Biodesulfurization and upgrading of petroleum distillates. Curr Opin Biotechnol 11:540–546

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. McFarland BL (1999) Biodesulfurization. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2:257–264

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Gray KA, Mrachkoyz GT, Squiresy CH (2003) Biodesulfurization of fossil fuels. Curr Opin Microbiol 6:229–235

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Kilbane JJ II (2006) Microbial biocatalysts development for the upgradation of fossil fuels. Curr Opin Biotechnol 17:305–314

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Challis GL (2008) Mining microbial genomes for new natural products and biosynthetic pathways. Microbiology 154:1555–1569

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Kalia VC, Lal S, Ghai R, Mandal M, Chauhan A (2003) Mining genomic databases to identify novel hydrogen producers. Trend Biotechnol 21:152–156

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Pacheco M, Lange E, Pienkos P, Yu L, Rouse M, Lin Q, Linguist L (1999) Recent advances in biodesulfurization of diesel fuel. Annual meeting NPRA: AM-99-27

  14. Kayser KJ, Cleveland L, Park H, Kwak J, Kolhatkar A, Kilbane JJ (2002) Isolation and characterization of a moderate thermophile, Mycobacterium phlei GTIS10 capable of dibenzothiophene desulfurization. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 59:737–746

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Kirimura K, Furuya T, Nishii Y, Ishii Y, Kino K, Usami S (2001) Biodesulfurization of dibenzothiophene and its derivatives through the selective cleavage of carbon-sulfur bonds by a moderately theromophillic bacterium Bacillus subtilis WU-S2B. J Biosci Bioeng 91:262–266

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Soleimani M, Bassi A, Margaritis A (2007) Biodesulfurization of refractory organic sulfur compounds in fossil fuels. Biotechnol Adv 25:570–596

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Marx CJ, Miller JA, Chistoserdova C, Lidstrom ME (2004) Multiple formaldehyde oxidation/detoxification pathways in Burkholderia fungorum LB400. J Bacteriol 186:2173–2178

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Kirimura K, Furuya T, Nishii Y, Ishii Y, Kino K, Usami S (2001) Biodesulfurization of dibenzothiophene and its derivatives through the selective cleavage of carbon–sulfur bonds by a moderately theromophillic bacterium Bacillus subtilis WU-S2B. J Biosci Bioeng 91:262–266

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Duarte GF, Rosado AS, Seldin L, Araujo W, Van Elsas JD (2001) Analysis of bacterial community structure in sulfurous-oil-containing soils and detection of species carrying dibenzothiophene desulfurization (dsz) genes. Appl Environ Microbiol 67:1052–1062

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Goris J, Vos PD, Mellado JC, Park J, Falsen E, Quensen JF, Tiedje JM, Vandamme P (2004) Classification of the PCB- and biphenyl degrading strain LB400 and relatives as Burkholderia xenovorans sp. nov. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 54:1677–1681

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Jianlong W, Liping H, Hanchang S, Yi Q (2001) Biodegradation of qunoline by gel immobilized Burkholderia sp. Chemosphere 44:1041–1046

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Castorena G, Mugica V, Le Borgne S, Acuña ME, Bustos-Jaimes I, Aburto J (2006) Carbazole biodegradation in gas oil/water biphasic media by a new isolated bacterium Burkholderia sp. strain IMP5GC. J Appl Microbiol 100:739–745

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the Petroleum Conservation Research Association, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Government of India, for the financial grant to carry out this research work. Rhodococcous erythropolis IGTS8, Thermobifida fusca YX (culture and genomic DNA) and Burkholderoia fungorum LB400 were gifts from Drs. John Kilbane (Gas Technology Institute, Illinois, Des Plaines, IL), David Wilson (Cornell University, New York, NY) and Mary Lidstorm (University of Washington, Seattle, WA), respectively.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Energy Studies, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi, 110016, India

    Sumedha Bhatia & Durlubh K. Sharma

Authors
  1. Sumedha Bhatia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Durlubh K. Sharma
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Durlubh K. Sharma.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Bhatia, S., Sharma, D.K. Mining of genomic databases to identify novel biodesulfurizing microorganisms. J Ind Microbiol Biotechnol 37, 425–429 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10295-010-0697-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10295-010-0697-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation