Application of matrix-assisted laser-desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry for the identification of alkylphenol polyethoxylate-degrading bacteria in the environment

摘要

In order to clarify the usefulness of the S10 -GERMS ( S10-spc-alpha operon gene-encoded ribosomal protein mass spectrum) method for the discrimination of microbial isolates from the environment, the isolates with octylphenol polyethoxylate (OPEO _n )-degrading capability from several soils in Japan were classified into 4 biodegradation patterns based on different final metabolic toxicants. Some isolates were identified as genera Chelatococcus and Mesorhizobium which have never been reported as OPEO _n -degrading bacteria based on 16S rRNA gene sequences. The findings from this study demonstrate that the S10 -GERMS method successfully discriminates the isolates at the strain level in the genus Pseudomonas . Moreover, this method is better than 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity because it precisely demonstrated that OPEO _n -degrading bacteria in the genera Chelatococcus and Mesorhizobium might be new species. The S10 -GERMS method is suggested as a useful tool for the discrimination and monitoring of man-made chemical-degrading bacteria isolated from the environment.