Involvement of the ligninolytic system of white-rot and litter-decomposing fungi in the degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

Natalia N Pozdnyakova

doi:10.1155/2012/243217

Abstract

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are natural and anthropogenic aromatic hydrocarbons with two or more fused benzene rings. Because of their ubiquitous occurrence, recalcitrance, bioaccumulation potential and carcinogenic activity, PAHs are a significant environmental concern. Ligninolytic fungi, such as Phanerochaete chrysosporium, Bjerkandera adusta, and Pleurotus ostreatus, have the capacity of PAH degradation. The enzymes involved in the degradation of PAHs are ligninolytic and include lignin peroxidase, versatile peroxidase, Mn-peroxidase, and laccase. This paper summarizes the data available on PAH degradation by fungi belonging to different ecophysiological groups (white-rot and litter-decomposing fungi) under submerged cultivation and during mycoremediation of PAH-contaminated soils. The role of the ligninolytic enzymes of these fungi in PAH degradation is discussed.

Highlights

The use of fossil fuels for energy and raw material in the past century has led to widespread environmental pollution
Various publications have shown the ability of white-rot and litter-decomposing fungi to degrade different polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) (Table 1), including phenanthrene (PHE), anthracene (ANT)
Maximal formation of 9-fluorenone in this system required an unsaturated fatty acid, Mn2+, and crude MnP. These results indicate that FLU oxidation in vitro was a consequence of lipid peroxidation mediated by P. chrysosporium MnP [17]

Summary

Introduction

The use of fossil fuels for energy and raw material in the past century has led to widespread environmental pollution. The first studies on the potential of ligninolytic fungi for use in PAH biodegradation can be attributed to 1985, when Bumpus et al [32] reported that the white-rot basidiomycete Phanerochaete chrysosporium partially degraded benzo[a]pyrene to carbon dioxide. Various publications have shown the ability of white-rot and litter-decomposing fungi to degrade different PAHs (Table 1), including phenanthrene (PHE) (by T. versicolor, Kuehneromyces mutabilis [9], P. chrysosporium [45], and Pleurotus ostreatus [14,15,16]), anthracene (ANT) The authors suggested that PHE degradation by P. chrysosporium proceeds in the order PHE → phenanthrene-9,10-quinone → 2,2 -diphenic acid, involves both ligninolytic and nonligninolytic enzymes, and is not initiated by the classic microsomal cytochrome P450. B[a]A-7,12-dione; phthalic acid, 1,2-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid; 2-hydroxymethyl benzoic acid; monoand di-methyl esters of phthalic acid; 1-tetralone; 1,4-naphthalenedione; 1,4-naphthalenediol; 1,2,3,4-

Enzymology of PAH Degradation

Findings

Conclusions