Engineered membrane superchannel improves bioremediation potential of dioxin-degrading bacteria

Sphingomonas sp. A1 possesses specialized membrane structures termed 'superchannels' that enable the direct incorporation of macromolecules into the cell. We have engineered two related sphingomonads, the dioxin-degrading S. wittichii RW1 and the polypropylene glycol-degrading S. subarctica IFO 16058(T), to incorporate this superchannel into their cell membranes. In both cases the bioremediation capability of the organisms was substantially increased pointing at the potential of this approach as a general strategy to improve bacterial degradation of hazardous compounds in the environment.