# Bioremediation of acetamiprid and sulfoxaflor co-contamination by Ensifer sp. DA6 and characterization of a novel nitrile hydratase involved

## TL;DR

A new bacterium, Ensifer sp. DA6, can break down two harmful pesticides, acetamiprid and sulfoxaflor, offering a potential solution for environmental cleanup.

## Contribution

This study is the first to report microbial co-degradation of acetamiprid and sulfoxaflor and identifies a novel nitrile hydratase enzyme involved.

## Key findings

- Ensifer sp. DA6 degrades acetamiprid to IM-1-2 and sulfoxaflor to X11719474.
- The nitrile hydratase enzyme from DA6 is cobalt-dependent and has a predicted active site.
- Both the recombinant E. coli and purified enzyme showed degradation ability in water samples.

## Abstract

The co-contamination of acetamiprid (ACE) and sulfoxaflor (SUL) threatens ecosystem security, yet their microbial remediation remains unexplored.

The bacterium Ensifer sp. DA6, which transforms ACE to IM-1-2 and SUL to X11719474, was isolated. Its genome was analyzed, and the nitrile hydratase (NHase) gene cluster was heterologously expressed in E. coli. The NHase was purified and modeled.

Immobilized Ensifer sp. DA6 degraded ACE and SUL in Yellow River water. The recombinant E. coli and purified NHase both acquired ACE/SUL degradation ability. The NHase is a cobalt-containing enzyme with a and β subunits plus an accessory protein, and its active site was predicted.

This is the first report on microbial co-degradation of ACE and SUL, identifying a novel NHase as the key enzyme, providing a potential bioremediation strategy.

Diagram illustrating the application of ACE and SUL on crops and the resulting effects. Arrows show movement towards non-target organisms and agricultural products, as well as into soil and surface water. The top right section displays chemical structures for ACE, IM-1-2, SUL, and X11719474, with the bacterium Ensifer sp. DA6 indicated in a yellow oval, linked by arrows.