In focus: Pseudomonas putida (CSV86)
Introduction
- Pseudomonas putidais a soil and water bacterium that thrives on organic compounds.
- They usually use carbon-based energy sources in plant roots for their metabolism.
- Usually these bacteria breakdown simple hydrocarbons like glucose for energy.
- The new strain CSV86 discovered have been found to breakdown complex hydrocarbons such as aromatic compounds.
Process of metabolism
- Any living being run its life processes through metabolic activities.
- Metabolic activities primarily involves uptake of organic compounds and convert the chemical energy stored in these compounds into useful work (life processes)
- Normally soil bacteria breakdown glucose (simple sugar) to release energy to fuel their life processes.
- However the bacterial strain CSV86 of Pseudomonas putida is found to have a unique preference of food.
- The CSV86 strain prefers aromatic compounds (complex hydrocarbons) for its metabolism.
- It breaks down aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzoate, benzyl alcohol, naphthalene etc
Significance
- The bacterial strain can be significant in bioremediation of oil spills both land-based and ocean-based.
- The strain can also be used in treating waste water to remove harmful toxics.
- It can naturally treat soil pollutants and thus arrest ground water pollution.
- Genetic engineering of bacterial using the strain can increase the metabolic diversity of bacteria.
In brief: Aromatic hydrocarbons
- Aromatic hydrocarbons are complex hydrocarbons that mostly possess a pleasant odour.
- Most of such compounds are made up of one or more benzene ring.
- These complex hydrocarbons containing more than two benzene rings are toxic and found to be a potent carcinogen.
- They are formed on incomplete combustion of organic materials like tobacco, coal and petroleum.
- Once they enter the human body they cause DNA mutations and cause cancer
Section : Science & Tech
