AUTHOR=Li Qin , Zhou Qiao , Chen Yuan , Hu Kaidi , Sarrà Montserrat , Li Jianlong , Liu Aiping , Zou Likou , Liu Shuliang 

TITLE=Whole-genome sequencing of Sphingobium baderi SC-1 and identification of a crucial 3-phenoxybenzoic acid-degrading gene

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=15

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2024.1361335

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2024.1361335

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p>As an efficient degradation strain, <italic>Sphingobium baderi</italic> SC-1 can breakdown 3-phenoxybenzoic acid (3-PBA) with high proficiency. To investigate the internal factors that regulate this process, we conducted whole-genome sequencing and successfully identified the pivotal 3-PBA-degrading gene <italic>sca</italic> (1,230 bp). After <italic>sca</italic> was expressed in engineered bacteria, a remarkable degradation efficiency was observed, as 20 mg/L 3-PBA was almost completely decomposed within 24 h. The phenol was formed as one of the degradation products. Notably, in addition to their ability to degrade 3-PBA, the resting cells proficiently degraded 4′-HO-3-PBA and 3′-HO-4-PBA. In conclusion, we successfully identified and validated <italic>sca</italic> as the pivotal enzyme responsible for the efficient degradation of 3-PBA from <italic>Sphingomonas baderi</italic>, providing a crucial theoretical foundation for further explorations on the degradation potential of SC-1.</p>