Case study 2: GRNs in bioremediation
Another example of the use of GRNs in microbial ecology is in bioremediation, which involves the use of microorganisms to degrade pollutants and other contaminants in the environment. One study used a combination of experimental and computational methods to construct a GRN of a microbial community involved in the biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are a common type of environmental contaminant. The resulting network identified key regulatory factors involved in the biodegradation of PAHs, as well as potential interactions between the PAH degradation pathway and other metabolic pathways in the community (Alegbeleye et al., 2017).
Another study used transcriptomics and computational methods to construct a GRN of a microbial community involved in the bioremediation of chlorinated ethenes, which are a common type of groundwater contaminant. The resulting network revealed a complex regulatory network involving multiple transcription factors and signaling pathways and identified key regulatory factors that could be targeted for the optimization of bioremediation strategies (Karig, 2017). These studies demonstrate the potential of GRNs in guiding the development of more efficient and effective bioremediation strategies, by providing a comprehensive picture of the regulatory mechanisms involved in pollutant degradation in microbial communities. By understanding the complex regulatory networks involved in bioremediation, researchers can identify key regulatory factors that can be targeted to optimize bioremediation strategies and improve environmental outcomes.