A Pathway for Isethionate Dissimilation in Bacillus krulwichiae

Abstract

Isethionate of biotic and industrial sources is prevalent. Dissimilation of isethionate under aerobic conditions is thus far only known in Gram-negative bacteria. Here, we report the discovery of a new pathway in Gram-positive Bacillus krulwichiae . Isethionate is oxidized by a cytosolic metal-dependent alcohol dehydrogenase (which we named IseD), with NAD + as the electron acceptor, generating sulfoacetaldehyde for subsequent cleavage by Xsc. This work highlights the diversity of organisms and pathways involved in the degradation of this ubiquitous organosulfonate. The new pathway that we discovered may play an important role in organosulfur mineralization and in the sulfur cycle in certain environments.