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Metagenomic Insights into the RDX-Degrading Potential of the Ovine Rumen Microbiome

ScholarsArchive at Oregon State University

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Title Metagenomic Insights into the RDX-Degrading Potential of the Ovine Rumen Microbiome
Names Li, Robert W. (creator)
Giarrizzo, Juan Gabriel (creator)
Wu, Sitao (creator)
Li, Weizhong (creator)
Duringer, Jennifer M. (creator)
Craig, A. Morrie (creator)
Date Issued 2014-11-10 (iso8601)
Note To the best of our knowledge, one or more authors of this paper were federal employees when contributing to this work. This is the publisher’s final pdf. The article was published by the Public Library of Science and is in the public domain. The published article can be found at: http://www.plosone.org/.
Abstract The manufacturing processes of royal demolition explosive (RDX), or hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine, have resulted in
serious water contamination. As a potential carcinogen, RDX can cause a broad range of harmful effects to humans and
animals. The ovine rumen is capable of rapid degradation of nitroaromatic compounds, including RDX. While ruminal RDX-degrading
bacteria have been identified, the genes and pathways responsible for RDX degradation in the rumen have yet to
be characterized. In this study, we characterized the metabolic potential of the ovine rumen using metagenomic
approaches. Sequences homologous to at least five RDX-degrading genes cloned from environmental samples (diaA, xenA,
xenB, xplA, and xplB) were present in the ovine rumen microbiome. Among them, diaA was the most abundant, likely
reflective of the predominance of the genus Clostridium in the ovine rumen. At least ten genera known to harbor RDX-degrading
microorganisms were detectable. Metagenomic sequences were also annotated using public databases, such as
Pfam, COG, and KEGG. Five of the six Pfam protein families known to be responsible for RDX degradation in environmental
samples were identified in the ovine rumen. However, increased substrate availability did not appear to enhance the
proliferation of RDX-degrading bacteria and alter the microbial composition of the ovine rumen. This implies that the RDX-degrading
capacity of the ovine rumen microbiome is likely regulated at the transcription level. Our results provide
metagenomic insights into the RDX-degrading potential of the ovine rumen, and they will facilitate the development of
novel and economic bioremediation strategies.
Genre Article
Access Condition http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/
Identifier Li, R. W., Giarrizzo, J. G., Wu, S., Li, W., Duringer, J. M., et al. (2014). Metagenomic Insights into the RDX-Degrading Potential of the Ovine Rumen Microbiome. PLoS ONE, 9(11), e110505. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0110505

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