Chrysene bioconversion by the white rot fungus Pleurotus ostreatus D1

Abstract

The effect of cultivation conditions on chrysene bioconversion by the fungus Pleurotus ostreatus D1 was shown. Under the laccase production conditions, transformation of this polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon occurs with accumulation of the quinone metabolite. Under both the laccase and versatile peroxidase production conditions, chrysene degradation occurs, with the stages leading to phthalic acid formation and its further utilization. The formation of phthalic acid as a metabolite of chrysene degradation by white rot fungi was revealed for the first time. The data obtained suggest that the laccase revealed on the mycelial surface and the extracellular laccase are probably involved at the initial stages of chrysene metabolism, whereas versatile peroxidase seems to be required for oxidizing the metabolites formed.