Paracoccus sp
. MKU1, a metabolically versatile
bacterium that encompasses diverse metabolic pathways in its genome
for the degradation of aromatic compounds, was investigated for catechol
bioremediation here for the first time to our knowledge.
Paracoccus
sp. MKU1 degraded catechol at an optimal pH of 7.5 and a temperature
of 37 °C, wherein 100 mg/L catechol was completely mineralized
in 96 h but required 192 h for complete mineralization of 500 mg/L
catechol. While investigating the molecular mechanisms of its degradation
potential, it was unveiled that
Paracoccus sp
. MKU1
employed both the ortho and meta pathways by inducing the expression
of catechol 1,2-dioxygenase (C12O) and catechol 2,3-dioxygenase (C23O),
respectively.
C23O
expression at transcriptional
levels was significantly more abundant than
C12O
,
which indicated that catechol degradation was primarily mediated by
extradiol cleavage by MKU1. Furthermore, poly(MAA-
co
-BMA)-GO (PGO) microcomposites containing
Paracoccus sp
. MKU1 were synthesized, which degraded catechol (100 mg/L) completely
within 48 h with excellent recycling performance for three cycles.
Thus, PGO@
Paracoccus
microcomposites proved to be
efficient in catechol degradation at not only faster rates but also
with excellent recycling performances than free cells. These findings
accomplish that
Paracoccus sp
. MKU1 could serve as
a potential tool for bioremediation of catechol-polluted industrial
wastewater and soil.