[Identification of almA genes involved in long-chain alkane degradation by Alcanivorax hongdengensis A-11-3]

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study is to identify of genes involved in long-chain (LC) alkane degradation in Alcanivorax hongdengensis A-11-3.

Methods: PCR was applied to obtain Flavin-binding monooxygenase genes, then quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (Q-RT-PCR) and RT-PCR were applied to analyze gene expression in response to different LC-alkanes and pristane.

Results: Two homologues, almA1 and almA2, were obtained. They showed 58.6% and 53.2% similarities with almA of Acinetobacter sp. Strain DSM 17874, respectively, at amino acid level. Enhanced expression of almA1 genes was observed when strain A-11-3 grew with long chain alkanes (C28 to C32), in sodium acetate medium. However, the induction expression was not observed in the case of C9-C22 alkanes. Similarly, almA2 was induced by long chain alkanes (C24 to C34). In addition, it was also induced by the branched alkane pristane.

Conclusion: AlmA genes were mostly responsible for the degradation of long-chain alkanes and pristane in strain A-11-3.