Isolation of Acetobacterium sp. Strain AG, Which Reductively Debrominates Octa- and Pentabrominated Diphenyl Ether Technical Mixtures

Abstract

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are a class of environmental pollutants that have been classified as persistent organic pollutants since 2009. In this study, a sediment-free enrichment culture (culture G) was found to reductively debrominate octa- and penta-BDE technical mixtures to less-brominated congeners (tetra-, tri-, and di-BDEs) via a para -dominant debromination pattern for the former and a strict para debromination pattern for the latter. Culture G could debrominate 96% of 280 nM PBDEs in an octa-BDE mixture to primarily tetra-BDEs in 21 weeks. Continuous transferring of culture G with octa-/penta-BDEs dissolved in n -nonane or trichloroethene (TCE) yielded two strains ( Acetobacterium sp. strain AG and Dehalococcoides sp. strain DG) that retained debromination capabilities. In the presence of lactate but without TCE, strain AG could cometabolically debrominate 75% of 275 nM PBDEs in a penta-BDE mixture in 33 days. Strain AG shows 99% identity to its closest relative, Acetobacterium malicum . In contrast to strain AG, strain DG debrominated PBDEs only in the presence of TCE. In addition, 18 out of 19 unknown PBDE debromination products were successfully identified from octa- and penta-BDE mixtures and revealed, for the first time, a comprehensive microbial PBDE debromination pathway. As an acetogenic autotroph that rapidly debrominates octa- and penta-BDE technical mixtures, Acetobacterium sp. strain AG adds to the still-limited understanding of PBDE debromination by microorganisms.