Microbial degradation of organophosphorous compounds by Soil bacterial isolates

Abstract Several bacterial strains that can use organophosphates as a source of carbon have been isolated from the soil, where the synthesis of organophosphorus compound takes places. The enrichment of biodegrading bacteria for OP compound was carried out in mineral salt (MS1) medium. All these organisms synthesize an enzyme called organophosphorus hydrolase in each case the enzyme is encoded by a opd gene. The isolates were grouped together using pyro GC, PAGE and identified by 16S rRNA sequencing. Two species of bacteria which are degrading OP compound effectively were identified as sp. of Pseudomonas and Acinetobactor. Organophosphates were utilized second preferred after glucose as carbon source by these bacteria whereas acetate and lactose exhibited minimum effect on growth. Degradation of organophosphorus compound by the bacterial isolates was determined by the estimation of concentration of inorganic phosphorus after 12 and 24 h. The biodegradation of methyl parathion, dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP), and sarin proceeded rapidly with the formation of a series of intermediate product, which were analyzed using a combination of GC/MS.