Biodegradation of mycotoxin patulin by the yeast Meyerozyma guilliermondii

Abstract

Patulin is a well-known mycotoxin widely found in rotten fruits, produced by a series of toxigenic fungi, particularly Penicillium expansum. Patulin is hazardous to human and animal health. Meyerozyma guilliermondii is an antagonistic yeast that has been found to have biocontrol properties against blue mold disease in pears. But, it is not clear whether M. guilliermondii can degrade patulin. The present study aimed to investigate M. guilliermondii to degrade patulin and the possible mechanisms involved. The results showed that neither uptake of patulin by cells nor adsorption by cell wall components were involved in patulin elimination by M. guilliermondii. Extracellular metabolites also do not degrade patulin. The addition of cycloheximide to the M. guilliermondii cells decreased the capacity of patulin degradation. Enzymes induced by patulin had a more substantial degradation effect on patulin, which indicated that the patulin-degradation ability of M. guilliermondii was inducible. Our results confirmed that M. guilliermondii could degrade patulin. The intracellular enzymes of M. guilliermondii, particularly a short-chain dehydrogenase (SDR), carried out the degradation process. The degradation ability of M.guilliermondii towards patulin would be a novel approach for the elimination of patulin contamination.