How do prokaryotes play a role in bioremediation?
Prokaryotes play an important role in bioremediation, which is the process of using
living organisms to break down or remove pollutants from contaminated sites.
Prokaryotes have the ability to degrade a wide range of toxic compounds, including
hydrocarbons, solvents, heavy metals, and pesticides, by using them as a source of
energy and nutrients. There are different ways in which prokaryotes can be used to
remediate contaminated sites, including the use of naturally occurring microbes,
transferring microbes from a healthy site to a contaminated site or by introducing
genetically modified microbes.
One approach to bioremediation is to stimulate the naturally occurring microbial
populations at a contaminated site by providing them with a source of nutrients that
will enhance their ability to degrade pollutants. This is known as biostimulation,
which involves adding fertilizers or organic compounds such as glucose or molasses
to the contaminated site to promote microbial growth and activity. Biostimulation is
often used in conjunction with bioaugmentation, which involves adding specific
strains of prokaryotes that are known to be efficient at degrading the target
compounds.
Another approach to bioremediation is to genetically modify prokaryotic strains to
enhance their ability to degrade specific pollutants. This involves introducing genes
encoding for enzymes that can break down the target pollutant. For example, some
prokaryotes can be engineered to produce enzymes that can break down chlorinated
compounds which are persistent organic pollutants.
Prokaryotes' ability to tolerate extreme temperatures also makes them useful in
bioremediation of contaminated sites where temperatures are beyond normal
conditions; for example, thermophilic bacteria are known to grow in extreme
temperatures and can be used to remediate pollutants in hot springs.
Overall, prokaryotes play a crucial role in bioremediation, which is an evolving field
that holds great promise for restoring contaminated sites and reducing the
environmental impact of toxic pollutants.
References:
1. Das, S., & Dash, H. R. (2019). Microbial Bioremediation: A Sustainable Approach. In
Microbial Biotechnology (pp. 179-197). Springer, Singapore.
2. Singh, O. V., & Dhanjal, S. (2019). Microbial bioremediation of contaminants associated
with industrial and agricultural pollution. In Microbial Biotechnology (pp. 461-484). Springer,
Singapore.
3. Prakash, D., Markande, A. R., & Deshmukh, D. (2020). Role of microorganisms in
bioremediation: A review. Journal of plant development sciences, 12(1), 1-11.