SREL Reprint #3845

Biotransformation of pesticides across biological systems: molecular mechanisms, omics insights, and biotechnological advances for environmental sustainability

Gayatri Basapuram1, Avishek Dutta1,2, and Srimanti Duttagupta1

1Department of Geology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA
2Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Aiken, South Carolina 29802, USA

Abstract: The widespread application of pesticides such as organophosphates, organochlorides, and triazines in modern agriculture has led to their notable presence in soils, water bodies, and food chains, raising concerns about persistence, bioaccumulation, and adverse effects on nontarget organisms. Biotransformation, the enzymatic transformation of xenobiotic compounds by microorganisms, plants, and animals, plays a pivotal role in the degradation and detoxification of these chemicals. This review provides a comprehensive examination of the mechanisms, key enzyme classes (e.g., hydrolases, oxidoreductases, transferases), and environmental factors influencing pesticide biotransformation across different biological systems. Recent advances in omics technologies have revolutionized the understanding of microbial and plant metabolism, while synthetic biology offers opportunities for engineering enhanced degradation capabilities. The environmental fate of transformation products is also discussed, together with a critical analysis of challenges, unresolved questions, and future research directions, offering a holistic perspective on pesticide biotransformation as a key process for mitigating chemical pollution.

SREL Reprint #3845

Basapuram, G., A. Dutta, and S. Duttagupta. 2025. Biotransformation of pesticides across biological systems: molecular mechanisms, omics insights, and biotechnological advances for environmental sustainability. ACS Omega (10): 50709-50723.

This information was provided by the University of Georgia's Savannah River Ecology Laboratory (srel.uga.edu).