Proteomics Monitoring of Microbes During Biodegradation of Environmental Contaminants

Abstract

Biodegradation is the process of breaking down complex organic compounds into byproducts, such as carbon dioxide and water. With the utilization of microorganisms, biodegradation could be employed as an effective technique to remove the organic compounds found in the environment as pollutants. This process occurs due to the presence of protein in the microorganisms through the steps of biodeterioration, biofragmentation, and assimilation. To gain an understanding of the process occurring and the proteins in these microbes responsible for biodegradation, a tool called proteomics is utilized. Proteomics is the comprehensive analysis of proteomes found in organisms, such as microbes, and the understanding of their functions and structures. Mass spectrometry is a vital technique used in proteomics through which these proteins are identified and characterized. This chapter aims to demonstrate how proteomics can help in monitoring microbes during biodegradation. The stages of biodegradation will be mentioned along with the method of proteomic analysis and the different technologies used in the different stages such as mass spectrometry will be discussed. Through proteomics, the optimum environmental conditions can be specified as well to enhance the biodegradation process. Furthermore, this chapter discusses how biodegradation and proteomics are applied in industries and the challenges faced while conducting these processes.