title: Degradation pathway of pentachlorophenol by Mucor plumbeus involves phase II conjugation and oxidation-reduction reactions.
abstract: Environmental pollution by pentachlorophenol (PCP) is a critical concern worldwide and fungal bioremediation constitutes an elegant and environment-friendly solution. Mucorales from the Zygomycota phylum are often observed to be competitive in field conditions and Mucor plumbeus, in particular, can efficiently deplete PCP from media. The pathway for PCP degradation used by this fungus has not been investigated. In this study, PCP-derived metabolites were identified by liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry, including tetra- and tri-chlorohydroquinones and phase II-conjugated metabolites. Amongst the latter are the previously reported glucose, sulfate and ribose conjugates, and identified for the first time in fungi sulfate-glucose conjugates. A PCP transformation pathway for M. plumbeus is proposed, which excludes the involvement of cytochrome P-450 and extracellular ligninolytic enzymes.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal.
authors.forename: Mariana B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tavares
authors.forename: Joana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Medeiros
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Núñez
authors.forename: Héctor
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gallart-Ayala
authors.forename: Maria Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Leitão
authors.forename: Maria Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Galceran
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hursthouse
authors.forename: Cristina Silva
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Pereira
mesh_terms: D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D001711:Biotransformation; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D009089:Mucor / Q000378:metabolism*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010416:Pentachlorophenol / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D010416:Pentachlorophenol