Article by: Nur Hidayahanum Hamid

Source: University of Bonn

Researchers have uncovered how the marine bacterium Alcanivorax borkumensis produces a natural "organic dishwashing liquid" that enables it to degrade oil, especially after spills. This detergent-like compound, made from glycine and a sugar-fatty acid molecule, allows the bacterium to attach to oil droplets and form biofilms, accelerating the breakdown of hydrocarbons. Scientists from several German institutions identified a key gene cluster responsible for synthesizing this compound. When these genes were deactivated, the bacteria’s ability to bind to oil and grow was significantly reduced, confirming their role in oil degradation.

Further investigation revealed that three specific enzymes are involved in assembling the detergent molecule, and the genes encoding these enzymes were successfully transferred to another bacterium, which then produced the compound. These findings, published in Nature Chemical Biology, open the door to breeding more efficient oil-degrading bacteria and exploring biotech applications. The natural detergent could be used for microbial production of valuable chemicals from hydrocarbons, contributing to sustainable environmental and industrial solutions.

Picture 1: The red-marked bacteria with the gene cluster switched off were no longer able to synthesize the detergent. The bacteria were then unable to attach to the surface of oil droplets (left) the way they usually do (right). Credit: Dr. Dörmann’s working group / University of Bonn

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Date of Input: 14/08/2025 | Updated: 12/11/2025 | m_fakhrulddin