Accelerated phenol removal by amplifying the gene expression with a recombinant plasmid encoding catechol-2,3-oxygenase

Abstract

The metabolic pathway of the phenol degradation in Pseudomonas putida BH was amplified by introducing the recombinant plasmid pBH500 containing catechol-2,3-oxygenase gene isolated from the chromosome of P. putida BH. This genetically engineered microorganism (GEM) was designated P. putida BH (pBH500). The experimental results showed that it could degrade phenol and grow much faster than the wild strain at the phenol concentration of 100 mg/l. However, at the phenol concentration of 200–400 mg/l, the effective phenol degradation by the amplification of gene expression was not shown clearly. The concentration of xenobiotic compounds which are contained in actual wastewater is relatively low. Therefore, the results manifested that the GEM could accelerate the phenol removal rate if it was applied to the treatment of wastewater containing phenol.