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A simple and efficient biodegradation route for nitroaromatic compounds using a nitroreductase from Bacillus subtilis and its "cell-like" immobilized form.

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Title: A simple and efficient biodegradation route for nitroaromatic compounds using a nitroreductase from Bacillus subtilis and its "cell-like" immobilized form.
Authors: Li, Ze1 (AUTHOR), Yang, Ziyi1 (AUTHOR), Zheng, Liangyu1 (AUTHOR) lyzheng@jlu.edu.cn
Source: Journal of Biotechnology. Aug2026, Vol. 416, p94-105. 12p.
Subjects: Nitroaromatic compounds, Immobilized enzymes, Sustainable chemistry, Enzymes, Bacillus subtilis, Biodegradation, Biocatalysis
Abstract: Nitroaromatic compounds are persistent environmental pollutants that pose significant ecological and toxicological risks. Enzymatic reduction of nitroaromatics to the corresponding aromatic amines offers an efficient and selective degradation pathway, whereas simultaneously yielding valuable intermediates for pharmaceutical and agrochemical synthesis. Here, a nitroreductase (NR Bs) from Bacillus subtilis was identified that catalyzed nitroaromatic reduction with exceptional efficiency, achieving a yield greater than 99.0% within 2 h without requiring any metal co-catalyst such as V 2 O 5. To enhance enzyme stability and eliminate repeated cofactor addition, a "cell-like" co-encapsulation system comprising NR Bs , glucose dehydrogenase (GDH), and the cofactor NADH was constructed using ZIF-67 as the encapsulation material. In this design, NR Bs was purified and immobilized on polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-modified ZIF-L (P-ZIF-L), whereas NADH and GDH were co-grafted onto poly(acrylamide-co-diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PADD) to form a PNG complex. The resulting NR Bs @P-ZIF-L@PNG@ZIF-67 composite exhibited enhanced catalytic activity, stability, and substrate scope. Furthermore, the "cell-like" co-immobilized system retained 65.0 ± 3.5% of its catalytic yield toward aniline formation after seven reaction cycles, whereas the NR Bs –GDH recombinant whole-cell catalyst showed complete deactivation under identical conditions. This work establishes a rapid, simple, green, and sustainable biodegradation strategy for nitroaromatic pollutants, demonstrating the feasibility of using a "cell-like" co-immobilized enzyme system for efficient and reusable biocatalysis. • A rapid, green, and efficient biodegradation route for nitroaromatics is developed. • One-step purification and immobilization of NR Bs is achieved by using P-ZIF-L carrier. • The "cell-like" immobilized system enables sustainable and reusable biodegradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Database: Engineering Source
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Abstract:Nitroaromatic compounds are persistent environmental pollutants that pose significant ecological and toxicological risks. Enzymatic reduction of nitroaromatics to the corresponding aromatic amines offers an efficient and selective degradation pathway, whereas simultaneously yielding valuable intermediates for pharmaceutical and agrochemical synthesis. Here, a nitroreductase (NR Bs) from Bacillus subtilis was identified that catalyzed nitroaromatic reduction with exceptional efficiency, achieving a yield greater than 99.0% within 2 h without requiring any metal co-catalyst such as V 2 O 5. To enhance enzyme stability and eliminate repeated cofactor addition, a "cell-like" co-encapsulation system comprising NR Bs , glucose dehydrogenase (GDH), and the cofactor NADH was constructed using ZIF-67 as the encapsulation material. In this design, NR Bs was purified and immobilized on polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-modified ZIF-L (P-ZIF-L), whereas NADH and GDH were co-grafted onto poly(acrylamide-co-diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PADD) to form a PNG complex. The resulting NR Bs @P-ZIF-L@PNG@ZIF-67 composite exhibited enhanced catalytic activity, stability, and substrate scope. Furthermore, the "cell-like" co-immobilized system retained 65.0 ± 3.5% of its catalytic yield toward aniline formation after seven reaction cycles, whereas the NR Bs –GDH recombinant whole-cell catalyst showed complete deactivation under identical conditions. This work establishes a rapid, simple, green, and sustainable biodegradation strategy for nitroaromatic pollutants, demonstrating the feasibility of using a "cell-like" co-immobilized enzyme system for efficient and reusable biocatalysis. • A rapid, green, and efficient biodegradation route for nitroaromatics is developed. • One-step purification and immobilization of NR Bs is achieved by using P-ZIF-L carrier. • The "cell-like" immobilized system enables sustainable and reusable biodegradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:01681656
DOI:10.1016/j.jbiotec.2026.04.024