Enhanced Degradation of an Endocrine-Disrupting Chemical, Butyl Benzyl Phthalate, by<i>Fusarium oxysporum</i>f. sp.<i>pisi</i>Cutinase

Abstract

Compared to yeast esterase, fungal cutinase degraded butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP) far more efficiently; i.e., almost 60% of the BBP disappeared within 7.5 h. Also, the final chemical composition significantly depended on the enzyme used. Toxicity monitoring using bioluminescent bacteria showed that butyl methyl phthalate, a major product of degradation by esterase, was an oxidative toxic hazard.