Project description:The effects of the aromatic hydrocarbons benzene and toluene on Nitrosomonas europaea, a nitrifying bacterium that plays an important role in the removal of nitrogen from wastewater treatment plants, were studied in batch reactors. Exposure to 20 M toluene and 40 M benzene resulted in a 50% reduction in nitrifying activity after 1 h. However, Affymetrix microarray experiments detected no significant changes in gene expression in toluene exposed cells. Cells exposed to benzene were found to up-regulate a gene cluster (NE 1545 - NE 1551). This gene cluster appears to be involved with fatty-acid metabolism, lipid and membrane protein biosynthesis. TEM experiments reveal that cells exposed to benzene decrease the thickness of their membrane and the membrane becomes more structured. Keywords: stress response, benzene, toluene
