Glutathione dependent NADP+ linked enzymatic pathway as a possible pathway used by microorganisms in the detoxification of formaldehyde resins

Abstract

Urea-formaldehyde polymers undergo hydrolysis to break into their monomeric components; one of which is formaldehyde. When resin containing wood chips are put into anaerobic bioreactors it is suspected that formaldehyde breaks down into carbon dioxide and methane gas, by microbes present in the system; this shares common characteristics with the MixAlco® fermentation process. The biochemical pathway with which this is achieved is unknown in this system, however throughout nature with respect to microbes, both eukaryotes and prokaryotes; their metabolic pathways are intensely studied and characterized. The purpose of this experiment was to determine if a glutathione (GSH) dependent NADP+ linked pathway was used by microbes for this process. Custom primers for use with polymerase chain reactions (PCR) were created to detect the presence of a gene responsible for the synthesis of a key intermediate enzyme in this pathway; S-(hydroxymethyl) glutathione dehydrogenase (S-GSHDH). Agarose Gel electrophoresis determined a greater intensity of S-GSHDH gene PCR product in samples with urea formaldehyde resins as a primary carbon source. These findings correlate with the resource ratio competition models and support the hypothesis that this pathway may be one of the main pathways used in this system.