Novel polypeptides induced by the insecticide lindane (gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane) are required for its biodegradation by a Sphingomonas paucimobilis strain

When exposed to the potent insecticide gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane or lindane, a Sphingomonas paucimobilis strain rapidly synthesised 7 novel polypeptides and concomitantly gained the ability to degrade lindane. Synthesis of these proteins was switched-off subsequent to the disappearance of lindane from the medium. Treatments which induced the synthesis of identical proteins also conferred on cells the ability to degrade lindane. In contrast, cells blocked in protein synthesis could not be induced to degrade lindane. The close correspondence observed between expression of lindane-induced proteins and gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane catabolism strongly implicates these novel proteins in lindane biodegradation