TITLE:
AtzABC Catabolic Gene Probe from Novel Atrazine-Degrading Rhodococcus Strain Isolated from a Nigerian Agricultural Soil
AUTHORS:
Ahmed Faruk Umar, Fatimah Tahir, Michael J. Larkin, Olubukola Mojisola Oyawoye, Balarabe Lawal Musa, Mohammed Bello Yerima, Ediga Bede Agbo
KEYWORDS:
Enrichment; Catabolic Genes; Bioremediation; Atrazine
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Microbiology,
Vol.2 No.4,
December
28,
2012
ABSTRACT: A batch enrichment technique was used to isolate atrazine-degrading Rhodococcus sp strain from an agricultural land with history of atrazine application in Bauchi state, Northeastern Nigeria. The strain was identified on the basis of physiological, biochemical and 16S r RNA gene sequencing. Growth studies and HPLC analysis showed that the strain has potential of atrazine degradation. An investigation into the catabolic genes Atz ABC, which transform atrazine to cyanuric acid, confirms the chromosomal DNA of strain to harbor BC genes, as compared with the positive control, Rhodococcus jostii RHA1. The strain does not possess the Atz A in all catabolic gene probe carried out. The isolation and characterization of the Rhodococcus sp strain showed that catabolic genes may have evolved from a single origin with widespread global distribution, with possible potential in atrazine bioremediation.