Degradation of phenol derivatives by a phanerochaete chrysosporium strain

Abstract

The white rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium has significant pollutant-degrading capabilities with its
oxidoreductases. The lignin-degrading enzyme system of this fungus also allows the breakdown of different
organic pollutants (xenobiotics). The most significant enzymes in these processes are the lignin peroxidase and
the manganese peroxidase. In this study, Phanerochaete chrysosporium strains were isolated from various
Hungarian habitats. It was revealed, that one of these strains (Pha78) seems to be very promising for such
remediation purposes. The degradation of different phenol derivatives by this isolate was investigated both in
lignin peroxidase and manganese peroxidase inductive media. The starting concentrations of phenol derivative
compounds were 20 mg l-1. The amounts of the phenolic compounds in the media were measured by the
colorimetric aminoantipyrine method. The tested Phanerochaete strain was able to degrade different phenol
derivatives efficiently, especially in manganese peroxidase-inductive medium.