Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare the ability of an engineered Escherichia coli to degrade chlorpyrifos (Cp) using an organophosphorus hydrolase enzyme, encoded in both Flavobacterium sp. ATCC 27551 or Pseudomonas diminuta, by employing the Lpp-OmpA chimera and the N-terminal domain of the ice nucleation protein as anchoring motifs. Tracing of the expression location of the recombinant protein using SDS-PAGE showed the presentation of OPH by both anchors on the outer membrane. This is the first report on the presentation of OPH on the cell surface by Lpp-OmpA under the control of the T7 promoter. The results showed cell growth in the presence of Cp as the sole source of energy, without growth inhibition, and with higher whole-cell activity for both cells harboring plasmids pENVO and pELMO, at approximately 10,342.85 and 10,857.14 U/mg, respectively. Noticeably, the protein displayed by pELMO was lower than the protein displayed by pENVO. It can be concluded that Lpp-OmpA can display less protein, but more functional OPH protein. These results highlight the high potential, of both engineered bacteria, for use in the bioremediation of pesticide-contaminated sources in the environment.