Study on the molecular mechanisms for reduction/degradation of organoarsenicals by soil bacteria and higher animals

• Project/Area Number: 15H06274
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Applied microbiology
• Research Institution: Nagoya University
• Principal Investigator: Yoshinaga Masafumi 名古屋大学, 医学系研究科, 特任助教 (80754978)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-08-28 – 2017-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2016)
• Budget Amount: ¥2,730,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥630,000); Fiscal Year 2016: ¥1,300,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥300,000); Fiscal Year 2015: ¥1,430,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥330,000)
• Keywords: 応用微生物 / 環境 / 細菌 / 有機ヒ素分解 / 応用微生物学

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Organoarsenicals have been used for agricultural purposes in various countries. However, because they are degraded by microbes into more toxic inorganic arsenicals in the environment, spreading of the environmental pollution by the continued uses has been concerned. Although metabolisms of organoarsenicals have been reported also in higher animals, the molecular mechanisms either for microbes or animals have not been well understood yet. In this study, therefore, I attempted to identify novel genes related to organoarsenical degradation. Although no novel genes were identified, I could identify a new additional step for degradation pathways for specific organoarsenicals by microbes. In addition, I performed further biochmical and structural biological analyses on the organoarsenical degrading enzyme that I previously identified and clarified the detail of the unique reaction mechanism at molecular level.

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Uranium in well drinking water of Kabul, Afghanistan and its effective, low-cost depuration using Mg-Fe based hydrotalcite-like compounds. (2016)
  • Author(s): Masashi Kato, Mohammad Daud Azimi, Said Hafizullah Fayaz, Muhammad Dawood Shah, Md. Zahirul Hoque, Nobuyuki Hamajima, Shoko Ohnuma, Tomomi Ohtsuka, Masao Maeda, Masafumi Yoshinaga
  • Journal Title: Chemosphere Volume: 165 Pages: 27-32
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2016.08.124
  • Peer Reviewed / Int'l Joint Research / Acknowledgement Compliant
• [Journal Article] Structure of the ArsI C-As Lyase: Insights into the Mechanism of Degradation of Organoarsenical Herbicides and Growth Promoters (2016)
  • Author(s): Venkadesh Sarkarai Nadar, Masafumi Yoshinaga, Shashank S. Pawitwar, Palani Kandavelu, Banumathi Sankaran, Barry P. Rosen
  • Journal Title: Journal of Molecular Biology Volume: 428 Issue: 11 Pages: 2462-2473
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2016.04.022
  • Peer Reviewed / Int'l Joint Research / Acknowledgement Compliant
• [Presentation] A C-As lyase for degradation of environmental organoarsenical herbicides and animal husbandry growth promoters (2015)
  • Author(s): Masafumi Yoshinaga, Tomomi Otsuka, Mari Hasegawa, Hayata Yamamoto, Barry P. Rosen, Masashi Kato
  • Organizer: 第5回名古屋大学・生理学研究所合同シンポ
  • Place of Presentation: 生理学研究所（愛知県岡崎市）
  • Year and Date: 2015-09-19