Isolation and identification of potential lignin-degrading bacteria in sediments from 50 stations of the Pelagic Ocean

Abstract:

[Background] Microorganisms play a vital role in the degradation process of marine lignin, but there are few reports about the lignin-degrading bacteria that originate from the marine environment. [Objective] To isolate potential lignin-degrading bacteria from sediments of Pelagic Ocean, and to provide strain resources for the conversion of renewable chemical substances of lignin. [Methods] Enrichment and purification of lignin-degrading bacteria in 50 sediment samples from the Pelagic Ocean by using the medium with alkaline lignin as the sole carbon source, and then screen for potential lignin-degrading bacteria by using the decolorizing medium. The taxonomic status of potential lignin-degrading bacteria preliminarily determined by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and sequence identity comparison. [Results] A total of 283 strains were isolated from 50 sediment samples, including 263 potential lignin-degrading strains, which belonged to 32 genera in five class (Alphapreobacteria, Gamaproteobacteria, Bacilli, Actinobacteria and Flavobacteriia). [Conclusion] The sediment environment in the Pelagic Ocean is rich in lignin-degrading bacteria, which provided new references for the development and utilization of marine biological resources.