Microbial biodegradation of biuret: defining biuret hydrolases within the isochorismatase superfamily

• Published in: Environmental microbiology 2018-06, Vol.20 (6), p.2099-2111
• Main Authors: Robinson, Serina L., Badalamenti, Jonathan P., Dodge, Anthony G., Tassoulas, Lambros J., Wackett, Lawrence P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agrochemicals; Algae; Aquatic plants; Archaea; Bacteria; Biodegradation; Capacity; Cyanuric acid; Fertilizers; Fungi; Gene sequencing; Genomes; Genotypes; Herbicides; Homology; Hydrolase; Hydrolases; Isochorismatase; Metabolism; Microorganisms; Phenotypes; Potatoes; Proteins; Rings (mathematics); Structure-function relationships; Triazine; Urea
• ISSN: 1462-2912; 1462-2920
• DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.14094

Summary Biuret is a minor component of urea fertilizer and an intermediate in s‐triazine herbicide biodegradation. The microbial metabolism of biuret has never been comprehensively studied. Here, we enriched and isolated bacteria from a potato field that grew on biuret as a sole nitrogen source. We sequenced the genome of the fastest‐growing isolate, Herbaspirillum sp. BH‐1 and identified genes encoding putative biuret hydrolases (BHs). We purified and characterized a functional BH enzyme from Herbaspirillum sp. BH‐1 and two other bacteria from divergent phyla. The BH enzymes reacted exclusively with biuret in the range of 2‐11 µmol min−1 mg−1 protein. We then constructed a global protein superfamily network to map structure‐function relationships in the BH subfamily and used this to mine > 7000 genomes. High‐confidence BH sequences were detected in Actinobacteria, Alpha‐ and Beta‐proteobacteria, and some fungi, archaea and green algae, but not animals or land plants. Unexpectedly, no cyanuric acid hydrolase homologs were detected in > 90% of genomes with BH homologs, suggesting BHs may have arisen independently of s‐triazine ring metabolism. This work links genotype to phenotype by enabling accurate genome‐mining to predict microbial utilization of biuret. Importantly, it advances understanding of the microbial capacity for biuret biodegradation in agricultural systems.