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Cited by 85Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances researchMicrobial bioremediation and biosurfactantsEnvironmental Chemistry and Analysis

Aerobic biotransformation of 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonate by Dietzia aurantiaca J3 under sulfur-limiting conditions

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Méndez, Valentina, Holland, Sophie, Bhardwaj, Shefali, McDonald, James, Khan, Stuart, O'Carroll, Denis, Pickford, Russell, Richards, Sarah +4 more·2022·Science of The Total Environment
DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154587
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Abstract

The polyfluorinated alkyl substance 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonate (6:2 FTS) has been detected in diverse environments impacted by aqueous film-forming foams used for firefighting. In this study, a bacterial strain (J3) using 6:2 FTS as a sulfur source was isolated from landfill leachate previously exposed to polyfluoroalkyl substances in New South Wales, Australia. Strain J3 shares 99.9% similarity with the 16S rRNA gene of Dietzia aurantiaca CCUG 35676T. Genome sequencing yielded a draft genome sequence of 37 contigs with a G + C content of 69.7%. A gene cluster related to organic sulfur utilisation and assimilation was identified, that included an alkanesulfonate monooxygenase component B (ssuD), an alkanesulfonate permease protein (ssuC), an ABC transporter (ssuB), and an alkanesulfonate-binding protein (ssuA). Proteomic analyses comparing strain J3 cultures using sulfate and 6:2 FTS as sulfur source indicated that the ssu gene cluster was involved in 6:2 FTS biodegradation. Upregulated proteins included the SsuD monooxygenase, the SsuB transporter, the ABC transporter permease (SsuC), an alkanesulfonate-binding protein (SsuA), and a nitrilotriacetate monooxygenase component B. 6:2 Fluorotelomer carboxylic acid (6:2 FTCA) and 6:2 fluorotelomer unsaturated acid (6:2 FTUA) were detected as early degradation products in cultures (after 72 h) while 5:3 fluorotelomer acid (5:3 FTCA), perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) and perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA) were detected as later degradation products (after 168 h). This work provides biochemical and metabolic insights into 6:2 FTS biodegradation by the Actinobacterium D. aurantiaca J3, informing the fate of PFAS in the environment.

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  • Another 6:2 FTSA-biodegrading strain, Dietzia aurantiaca J3 was isolated from PFAS-impacted landfill leachate that could transform the compound to 6:2FTCA, 6:2 FTUA, 5:3 FTCA, PFHxA and PFPeA through the 6:2 FTOH degradation pathway.

    “Another 6:2 FTSA – biodegrading strain, Dietzia aurantiaca J3 was isolated from PFAS-impacted landfill leach- ate that could transform the compound to 6:2FTCA, 6:2 FTUA, 5:3 FTCA, PFHxA and PFPeA through the 6:2 FTOH degradation pathway (Méndez et al., 2022).”

    From A review of microbial degradation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS): Biotransformation routes and enzymes (2023) · cites this paper as Méndez et al., 2022

    The Discussion reports that Dietzia aurantiaca J3 was isolated from PFAS-impacted landfill leachate and produced all five listed breakdown products. It says transformation to 6:2 FTCA likely occurs via 6:2 FTOH, but that intermediate was not directly detected; the claim presents this proposed pathway as established. (LLM, conf=0.88)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Desulfonation of PFSAs is suspected to be catalyzed by alkanesulfonate monooxygenases, ssuDEABC proteins, haloacid dehalogenases, cytochrome P450s and nitriloacetate monooxygenases.

    “is suspected to be catalyzed by alkanesulfonate monooxygenases, ssuDEABC proteins, haloacid dehalogenases, cytochrome P450s and nitriloacetate monooxygenases (Table 4) (Méndez et al., 2022; Van Hamme et al., 2013; Yang et al., 2022)”

    From A review of microbial degradation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS): Biotransformation routes and enzymes (2023) · cites this paper as Méndez et al., 2022

    The Introduction and §3.3 support a suspected role for alkanesulfonate monooxygenase and Ssu proteins in desulfonating 6:2 FTS. Section 3.3 reports that a nitrilotriacetate monooxygenase component was upregulated, but does not assign it a desulfonation role; the cited passages do not support such a role for haloacid dehalogenases or cytochrome P450s either. The paper addresses 6:2 FTS, not PFSAs generally; page numbers are unavailable in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.88)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

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Authors
Méndez, V., Holland, S., Bhardwaj, S., McDonald, J., Khan, S., O'Carroll, D., Pickford, R., Richards, S., O'Farrell, C., Coleman, N., Lee, M., & Manefield, M. J.
Affiliations
  • UNSW Sydney (AU)
  • The University of Sydney (AU)
Corresponding author
Manefield, Michael J.
ORCID
Venue
Science of The Total Environment
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2022-07
Volume
829
Pages
154587
ISSN
0048-9697 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154587
OpenAlex
W4220981198
Cited by
85
References
4
Citations by year
2026: 16 · 2025: 34 · 2024: 23 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 3
FWCI
6.01
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • The Science of The Total Environment (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • UNSWorks (University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
Funders
Australian Research Council (LP170100116)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Chemistry › Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances research
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Microbial bioremediation and biosurfactants
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Chemistry › Environmental Chemistry and Analysis
Keywords
6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonate, aerobic biodegradation, aqueous film-forming foam, landfill leachate, ABC transporters, degradation products, perfluorinated carboxylic acids, actinobacteria
MeSH terms
Alkanesulfonates, Biotransformation, Fluorocarbons, Mixed Function Oxygenases, RNA, Ribosomal, 16S, Sulfur, Water Pollutants, Chemical, ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters, Membrane Transport Proteins, Actinobacteria, Proteomics

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