Soil bacteria enzyme breaks down leftover Tylenol in dirt and water
Kou B, Yue Y, Wang L, Ma D, Sun Z
Phytoremediation
The runoff from septic systems and treated wastewater used on lawns and gardens can carry trace pharmaceuticals like acetaminophen into the soil, and this discovery points toward a microbial cleanup tool that could someday help keep that contamination out of the ground beneath your plants.
Researchers discovered a bacterium living in soil that can eat acetaminophen, the common pain medication, breaking it down into harmless pieces using a special protein tool called an enzyme. They figured out exactly how this enzyme grabs and cuts apart the drug molecule, and the bacterium works across a wide range of temperatures and acidity levels, making it a promising candidate for cleaning up contaminated soil and wastewater.
Key Findings
Acinetobacter sp. DL27 degrades acetaminophen (APAP) and tolerates a broad range of temperatures and pH levels, making it useful for both soil and wastewater bioremediation
Researchers identified three previously unknown breakdown byproducts of acetaminophen, refining the known bacterial degradation pathway
A newly characterized enzyme (AdA) works via a Ser161-Ser185-Lys82 catalytic triad and shows higher catalytic efficiency (kcat/Km of 9.04 μM⁻¹s⁻¹) than previously known acetaminophen-degrading amidases
chevron_right Technical Summary
Scientists found a soil bacterium that breaks down acetaminophen (the pain reliever in Tylenol) using a specialized enzyme, offering a possible tool for cleaning up contaminated soil and wastewater.
Abstract Preview
Original paper
Functional Characterization and Catalytic Mechanism of an Amidase Involved in Acetaminophen Degradation from Acinetobacter sp.
The accumulation of acetaminophen (APAP) in agricultural soils and water systems poses risks to ecosystems and public health. This study characterizes Acinetobacter sp. DL27, an APAP-degrading stra...
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