ABSTRACT
Hypothesis: An oil-degrading bacterium subject to proton uncoupling of its membrane has remodeled its respiratory chain to accept Na+, a far less permeable cation.
Contamination of marine waters by petroleum from accidental spills, terrestrial runoff, and natural seeps is a major global ecological problem (Figure 15.1). This has spurred interest in the molecular biology and applications of oil-degrading bacteria such as the ubiquitous marine organism Alcanivorax borkumensis. Genomic, proteomic, biochemical, and microbiological studies show the unique properties of these cells that have evolved as rst responders following oil contamination of marine waters. Major adaptations have occurred at the membrane level because these cells specialize in living in close contact with oil droplets, a normally toxic environment. Oil is the primary energy source for A. borkumensis, but many compounds found in oil are also known to act as solvents to destroy the membrane, with toluene given as an example in Chapter 10.
