Enantioselective degradation of the organophosphorus insecticide isocarbophos in Cupriavidus nantongensis X1T: Characteristics, enantioselective regulation, degradation pathways, and toxicity assessment

Abstract

The chiral pesticide enantiomers often show selective efficacy and non-target toxicity. In this study, the enantioselective degradation characteristics of the chiral organophosphorus insecticide isocarbophos (ICP) by Cupriavidus nantongensis X1T were investigated systematically. Strain X1T preferentially degraded the ICP R isomer (R-ICP) over the S isomer (S-ICP). The degradation rate constant of R-ICP was 42-fold greater than S-ICP, while the former is less bioactive against pest insects but more toxic to humans than the latter. The concentration ratio of S-ICP to R-ICP determines whether S-ICP can be degraded by strain X1T. S-ICP started to degrade only when the ratio (CS-ICP/CR-ICP) was greater than 62. Divalent metal cations could improve the degradation ability of strain X1T. The detected metabolites that were identified suggested a novel hydrolysis pathway, while the hydrolytic metabolites were less toxic to fish and green algae than those from P-O bond breakage. The crude enzyme degraded both R-ICP and S-ICP in a similar rate, indicating that enantioselective degradation was due to the transportation of strain X1T. The strain X1T also enantioselectively degraded the chiral organophosphorus insecticides isofenphos-methyl and profenofos. The enantioselective degradation characteristics of strain X1T make it suitable for remediation of chiral organophosphorus insecticide contaminated soil and water.