title: PCBs stimulate laccase production and activity in Pleurotus ostreatus thus promoting their removal.
abstract: Pleurotus ostreatus degrades polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) with an increase of laccase activity. Laccases are well known for their detoxifying activity. We show, using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and a biochemical assay, that reduction in PCBs (di, tri, tetra, and penta) levels are correlated with an increase in laccase activity. P. ostreatus cultures were obtained from 0 to 30 days in the presence or absence of 7,100 mg/L PCBs (from transformer oil) and a surfactant. After each selected time cultures were withdrawn and remaining PCBs were determined, a maximal removal percentage of PCBs was obtained at 20 (63.5 ± 2.0) and 30 days (63.8 ± 4.6) post-induction. Also, the activity of the enzyme was analyzed and it was found to increase at 10 (6.9-fold) and 20 (6.77-fold) days post-induction in the presence of PCBs, as determined by its activity. Taken together, these data suggest that PCBs induce laccase expression and that laccase catalyzes PCBs removal.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigación en Ciencia y Tecnología de los Alimentos, Instituto de Ciencias Agropecuarias, UAEH, Av. Universitaria Km. 1. Exhac. de Aquetzalpa, 43600, Tulancingo, Hidalgo, México.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gayosso-Canales
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Vázquez
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Esparza-García
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Bermúdez-Cruz
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D042845:Laccase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D020076:Pleurotus / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000378:metabolism*; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D005656:Fungal Proteins; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls; D042845:Laccase