BIODEGRADATION OF HIGH MOLECULAR WEIGHT POLYCYCLICAROMATIC HYDROCARBON CHRYSENE BY SOIL BACTERIALISOLATESNIMISHA PATEL, UZAIR AHMED, SHAZIA SHAHEEN MIR, ASIF ANAS,TANZEEL TANZEEL, HEENA ALIM AND ARIF ALIAbstract PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) are common and dangerous organic pollutants made primarily of carbon and hydrogen. Chrysene is also a potential human carcinogen and a high molecular weight PAH. The current research focuses on chrysene biodegradation, and effective chrysene degrading microbial strains were identified from soil samples taken from the hydrocarbon-contaminated surrounding soil of the Mathura petroleum refinery in Uttar Pradesh, India. The isolated isolates were morphologically examined, and basic biochemical tests were performed. 16sRNA analysis was performed for molecular analysis, and it was discovered that 3AS belongs to Enterobacter sp. and 5AS belongs to Ochrobactrum sp. The biodegradation efficiency of strain 3AS was 60%, while strain 5AS could only digest 55% of chrysene in MSM (Minimal Salt Media). The principal metabolite of chrysene biodegradation discovered in the cultures of strain3AS using the GC-MS (Gas chromatography-mass spectrophotometry) technique, as well assignificant metabolites such as phenol, 2, 5-bis (1,1- dimethyl ethyl), 1-naphthoic acid, 8-methoxy,and 3-nitrophthalic acid. In 5AS cultures, phthalic acid and di-isobutyl ester was detected. Thecatechol-1, 2-dioxygenase gene was not found, but the presence of catechol-2, 3-dioxygenasesuggests that chrysene can be degraded via the meta cleavage pathway. |