Low-Temperature Biosurfactants from Polar Microbes
Surfactants, both synthetic and natural, are used in a wide range of industrial applications, including the degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons. Organisms from extreme environments are well-adapted to the harsh conditions and represent an exciting avenue of discovery of naturally occurring biosurf...
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doaj-bc8cbc8a21394765a28c9c4c49d8d0652020-11-25T03:11:29ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072020-08-0181183118310.3390/microorganisms8081183Low-Temperature Biosurfactants from Polar MicrobesBenjamin Trudgeon0Markus Dieser1Narayanaganesh Balasubramanian2Mitch Messmer3Christine M. Foreman4Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USACenter for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USADepartment of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USACenter for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USACenter for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USASurfactants, both synthetic and natural, are used in a wide range of industrial applications, including the degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons. Organisms from extreme environments are well-adapted to the harsh conditions and represent an exciting avenue of discovery of naturally occurring biosurfactants, yet microorganisms from cold environments have been largely overlooked for their biotechnological potential as biosurfactant producers. In this study, four cold-adapted bacterial isolates from Antarctica are investigated for their ability to produce biosurfactants. Here we report on the physical properties and chemical structure of biosurfactants from the genera <i>Janthinobacterium</i>, <i>Psychrobacter</i>, and <i>Serratia</i>. These organisms were able to grow on diesel, motor oil, and crude oil at 4 °C. Putative identification showed the presence of sophorolipids and rhamnolipids. Emulsion index test (<i>E<sub>24</sub></i>) activity ranged from 36.4–66.7%. Oil displacement tests were comparable to 0.1–1.0% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) solutions. Data presented herein are the first report of organisms of the genus <i>Janthinobacterium</i> to produce biosurfactants and their metabolic capabilities to degrade diverse petroleum hydrocarbons. The organisms’ ability to produce biosurfactants and grow on different hydrocarbons as their sole carbon and energy source at low temperatures (4 °C) makes them suitable candidates for the exploration of hydrocarbon bioremediation in low-temperature environments.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/8/8/1183biosurfactantdi-rhamnolipidbioremediationAntarctic bacteriacold temperature |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Benjamin Trudgeon Markus Dieser Narayanaganesh Balasubramanian Mitch Messmer Christine M. Foreman |
spellingShingle |
Benjamin Trudgeon Markus Dieser Narayanaganesh Balasubramanian Mitch Messmer Christine M. Foreman Low-Temperature Biosurfactants from Polar Microbes Microorganisms biosurfactant di-rhamnolipid bioremediation Antarctic bacteria cold temperature |
author_facet |
Benjamin Trudgeon Markus Dieser Narayanaganesh Balasubramanian Mitch Messmer Christine M. Foreman |
author_sort |
Benjamin Trudgeon |
title |
Low-Temperature Biosurfactants from Polar Microbes |
title_short |
Low-Temperature Biosurfactants from Polar Microbes |
title_full |
Low-Temperature Biosurfactants from Polar Microbes |
title_fullStr |
Low-Temperature Biosurfactants from Polar Microbes |
title_full_unstemmed |
Low-Temperature Biosurfactants from Polar Microbes |
title_sort |
low-temperature biosurfactants from polar microbes |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Microorganisms |
issn |
2076-2607 |
publishDate |
2020-08-01 |
description |
Surfactants, both synthetic and natural, are used in a wide range of industrial applications, including the degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons. Organisms from extreme environments are well-adapted to the harsh conditions and represent an exciting avenue of discovery of naturally occurring biosurfactants, yet microorganisms from cold environments have been largely overlooked for their biotechnological potential as biosurfactant producers. In this study, four cold-adapted bacterial isolates from Antarctica are investigated for their ability to produce biosurfactants. Here we report on the physical properties and chemical structure of biosurfactants from the genera <i>Janthinobacterium</i>, <i>Psychrobacter</i>, and <i>Serratia</i>. These organisms were able to grow on diesel, motor oil, and crude oil at 4 °C. Putative identification showed the presence of sophorolipids and rhamnolipids. Emulsion index test (<i>E<sub>24</sub></i>) activity ranged from 36.4–66.7%. Oil displacement tests were comparable to 0.1–1.0% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) solutions. Data presented herein are the first report of organisms of the genus <i>Janthinobacterium</i> to produce biosurfactants and their metabolic capabilities to degrade diverse petroleum hydrocarbons. The organisms’ ability to produce biosurfactants and grow on different hydrocarbons as their sole carbon and energy source at low temperatures (4 °C) makes them suitable candidates for the exploration of hydrocarbon bioremediation in low-temperature environments. |
topic |
biosurfactant di-rhamnolipid bioremediation Antarctic bacteria cold temperature |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/8/8/1183 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT benjamintrudgeon lowtemperaturebiosurfactantsfrompolarmicrobes AT markusdieser lowtemperaturebiosurfactantsfrompolarmicrobes AT narayanaganeshbalasubramanian lowtemperaturebiosurfactantsfrompolarmicrobes AT mitchmessmer lowtemperaturebiosurfactantsfrompolarmicrobes AT christinemforeman lowtemperaturebiosurfactantsfrompolarmicrobes |
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