Integrated Omics Approaches to Explore a New System of Genetic Control of Dibenzothiophene Desulfurization and Aromatic Ring Cleavage by Gordonia alkanivorans Strain 135

Dibenzothiophene (DBT) is a widespread environmental pollutant. The most common metabolic pathway for DBT degradation by <i>Gordonia</i> strains is the 4S pathway, which is under the control of the <i>dsz</i> operon. The ability to utilize DBT as the sole source of sulfur in <i>Gordonia alkanivorans</i> strain 135 has been revealed. The <i>dsz</i> operon was not detected in the genome of strain 135. In this work, using genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic data of strain 135, it was shown that an alternative pathway of DBT transformation is possible in non-<i>dsz Gordonia</i>; the <i>sfn</i>B and <i>tau</i>D genes and two acyl-dehydrogenase genes are significantly involved in the desulfurization process.