Minoo Giyahchi - Department of Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
Gholamhossein Ebrahimipour - Department of Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran

Introduction and Objectives: Short chain alkanes are chemically the least reactive compounds. Despite this, some microorganisms can utilize these compounds as their carbon source for their metabolic activities. A group of them are hydrocarbon oxidizing bacteria which based on the theory of light hydrocarbons leakage from oil/gas reserviors to the surface layer, can be used as indicators for prospecting new oil/gas reserviors. The aerobic oxidation catalyse by soluble diiron monooxygenases i.e. butane monooxygenase and propane monooxygenase which oxidize alkanes to primary or secondary alcohols. The purpose of this study was isolation and identification of a new butane and/or propane oxidizing strain. Materials and Methodes: The methodology involve the collection and packing of soil samples from oil survey area aceptically and isolation of butane and/or propane oxidizing bacteria by using LPG (Liquefied petroleum gas) as the only carbon source in Mineral base medium. Identification of isolated bacteria carried out by 16S rDNA sequencing and biochemical tests. Polymerase chain reaction was applied for detecting prmA (peopane monooxygenase A gene) and bmoX (butane monooxygenase X gene) genes in isolate. sequencing of the genes also carried out after successful amplification. Results: The isolated bacteria identified as a new strain of Stappia indica with 99.35% homology of 16S rDNA sequence with Stappia indica B106. The prmA gene also successfully detected and sequenced in this isolate. Conclusion: To conclude, the new strain is a new propane and/or butane oxidizing bacterium, the ability that has not been reported for the genus Stappia.

Short chain alkanes, Butane and/or propane oxidizing bacteria, prmA, bmoX, Stappia indica