Metatranscriptomic shifts suggest shared biodegradation pathways for Corexit 9500 components and crude oil in Arctic seawater

While the genes and pathways responsible for petroleum biodegradation in marine environments have received substantial attention, considerably less is known about those active in the biodegradation of the commonly applied chemical dispersant Corexit 9500. Yet, their fate in the Arctic marine environment is an increasingly important unknown. To elucidate the genes and pathways active in the biodegradation of oil and dispersants, we performed metatranscriptomic sequencing on microbial communities in Arctic seawater exposed to oil, Corexit, or both for 0, 5, and 30 days in a mesocosm incubation experiment. While oil and Corexit stimulated significantly different metatranscriptomic profiles overall, both enriched a suite of fatty acid degradation gene transcripts. Based on the gene transcripts observed and the chemical structures of Corexit 9500 surfactant components, we propose a hypothetical pathway for Corexit surfactant biodegradation in which surfactant ester groups are transformed into fatty acids that are then funnelled into the beta-oxidation fatty acid degradation pathway. Several microbial taxa within Oceanospirillales, Pseudomonadales, and Alteromonadales were associated with either oil-only or Corexit-only exposure, potentially implicating them in the degradation of these mixtures. Metabolic gene transcripts were associated with diverse gammaproteobacterial lineages, with many genera exhibiting functional redundancy. These findings offer new insight into the potential genes, pathways, and microbial consortia involved in the biodegradation of Corexit 9500 in the Arctic marine environment.

Automated summary

While much is known about the genes and pathways responsible for petroleum biodegradation in marine environments, less is understood about the biodegradation of the chemical dispersant Corexit 9500. This study investigated the genes and pathways involved in the biodegradation of oil and Corexit 9500 in Arctic seawater through metatranscriptomic sequencing. The results revealed a suite of fatty acid degradation genes that were enriched by both oil and Corexit exposure, suggesting a potential pathway for Corexit surfactant biodegradation. The study also identified specific microbial taxa associated with the degradation of oil and Corexit. Overall, this research provides new insights into the biodegradation of Corexit 9500 in the Arctic marine environment.