title: Exploring micromycetes biodiversity for screening benzo[a]pyrene degrading potential.
abstract: Twenty-five strains of filamentous fungi, encompassing 14 different species and belonging mainly to Ascomycetes, were tested for their ability to degrade benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) in mineral liquid medium. The most performing isolates for BaP degradation (200 mg l(-1)) in mineral medium were Cladosporium sphaerospermum with 29 % BaP degradation, i.e., 82.8 μg BaP degraded per day (day(-1)), Paecilomyces lilacinus with 20.5 % BaP degradation, i.e., 58.5 μg BaP day(-1), and Verticillium insectorum with 22.3 % BaP degradation, i.e., 64.3 μg BaP day(-1), after only 7 days of incubation. Four variables, e.g., biomass growth on hexadecane and glucose, BaP solubilization, activities of extracellular- and mycelium-associated peroxidase, and polyethylene glycol degradation, were also studied as selective criteria presumed to be involved in BaP degradation. Among these variables, the tests based on polyethylene glycol degradation and on fungal growth on hexadecane and glucose seemed to be the both pertinent criteria for setting apart isolates competent in BaP degradation, suggesting the occurrence of different mechanisms presumed to be involved in pollutant degradation among the studied micromycetes.
authors.affiliation: Université du Littoral Côte d'Opale Unité de Chimie Environnementale et Interactions sur Vivant, Dunkerque 59140, France. rafin@univ-littoral.fr
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rafin
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: de Foucault
authors.forename: Etienne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Veignie
mesh_terms: D000473:Alkanes / Q000378:metabolism; D001580:Benzopyrenes / Q000378:metabolism*; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000378:metabolism; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism*; D005658:Fungi / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000378:metabolism; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D013045:Species Specificity; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000473:Alkanes; D001580:Benzopyrenes; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D009195:Peroxidase; C007932:n-hexadecane