An extensive screening of saprotrophic Basidiomycetes causing white rot (WR), brown rot (BR), or litter decomposition (LD) for the production of laccase and Mn-peroxidase (MnP) and decolorization of the synthetic dyes Orange G and Remazol Brilliant Blue R (RBBR) was performed. The study considered in total 150 strains belonging to 77 species. The aim of this work was to compare the decolorization and ligninolytic capacity among different ecophysiological and taxonomic groups of Basidiomycetes. WR strains decolorized both dyes most efficiently; high decolorization capacity was also found in some LD fungi. The enzyme production was recorded in all three ecophysiology groups, but to a different extent. All WR and LD fungi produced laccase, and the majority of them also produced MnP. The strains belonging to BR lacked decolorization capabilities. None of them produced MnP and the production of laccase was either very low or absent. The most efficient decolorization of both dyes and the highest laccase production was found among the members of the orders Polyporales and Agaricales. The strains with high MnP activity occurred across almost all fungal orders (Polyporales, Agaricales, Hymenochaetales, and Russulales). Synthetic dye decolorization by fungal strains was clearly related to their production of ligninolytic enzymes and both properties were determined by the interaction of their ecophysiology and taxonomy, with a more relevant role of ecophysiology. Our screening revealed 12 strains with high decolorization capacity (9 WR and 3 LD), which could be promising for further biotechnological utilization.

• Keywords
• Basidiomycetes, Orange G, Remazol Brilliant Blue R, decolorization, ligninolytic enzymes,
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

White-rot fungi that are efficient lignin degraders responsible for its turnover in nature have appeared twice in the center of biotechnological research - first, when the lignin degradation process started being systematically investigated and major enzyme activities and mechanisms involved were described, and second, when the huge remediation potential of these organisms was established. Originally, Phanerochaete chrysosporium became a model organism, characterized by a secondary metabolism regulatory pattern triggered by nutrient (mostly nitrogen) limitation. Last decade brought evidence of more varied regulatory patterns in white-rot fungi when ligninolytic enzymes were also abundantly synthesized under conditions of nitrogen sufficiency. Gradually, research was focused on other species, among them Irpex lacteus showing a remarkable pollutant toxicity resistance and biodegradation efficiency. Systematic research has built up knowledge of biochemistry and biotechnological applicability of this fungus, stressing the need to critically summarize and estimate these scattered data. The review attempts to evaluate the information on I. lacteus focusing on various enzyme activities and bioremediation of organopollutants in water and soil environments, with the aim of mediating this knowledge to a broader microbiological audience.

• MeSH
• Basidiomycota enzymology   genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Biodegradation, Environmental MeSH
• Biotechnology * MeSH
• Fungal Proteins genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Environmental Pollutants metabolism   MeSH
• Lignin metabolism   MeSH
• Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Review MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Fungal Proteins MeSH
• Environmental Pollutants MeSH
• Lignin MeSH

Two types of copolymers--poly(ester-amide)s--by the anionic copolymerization of epsilon-caprolactam and epsilon-caprolactone, and aromatic-aliphatic copolyesters based on glycolyzed polyethylene terephthalate from used beverage bottles and epsilon-caprolactone were prepared. Biodegradation tests of these copolymers were performed by two methods, viz. composting under controlled conditions and treatment with ligninolytic fungi. Both methods resulted in degradation of the copolymers, composting being more robust. Out of fungal strains tested Inonotus hispidus degraded aromatic-aliphatic copolyesters most intensively.

• MeSH
• Basidiomycota metabolism   MeSH
• Biodegradation, Environmental MeSH
• Caprolactam metabolism   MeSH
• Caproates metabolism   MeSH
• Lactones metabolism   MeSH
• Lignin metabolism   MeSH
• Microscopy, Electron, Scanning MeSH
• Nylons metabolism   MeSH
• Soil * MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• caprolactone MeSH Browser
• Caprolactam MeSH
• Caproates MeSH
• Lactones MeSH
• Lignin MeSH
• Nylons MeSH
• Soil * MeSH

The little studied white rot fungus Ischnoderma resinosum was tested for its ability to decolorize seven different synthetic dyes. The strain efficiently decolorized Orange G, Amaranth, Remazol Brilliant Blue R, Cu-phthalocyanin and Poly R-478 on agar plates and in liquid culture at a relatively high concentration of 2-4 and 0.5-1 g l(-1), respectively. Malachite Green and Crystal Violet were decolorized to a lower extent up to the concentration of 0.1 g l(-1). Decolorization capacity of I. resinosum was higher than that in Phanerochaete chrysosporium, Pleurotus ostreatus or Trametes versicolor. In contrast with these thoroughly examined fungi, I. resinosum was able to degrade a wide spectrum of chemically and structurally different synthetic dyes. I. resinosum also efficiently decolorized dye mixtures. In liquid culture, Orange G and Remazol Brilliant Blue R were decolorized most rapidly; the process was not affected by different nitrogen content in the media. Shaken cultivation strongly inhibited the decolorization of Orange G.

• MeSH
• Color MeSH
• Coloring Agents metabolism   MeSH
• Basidiomycota metabolism   MeSH
• Biodegradation, Environmental MeSH
• Water Pollutants, Chemical analysis   MeSH
• Waste Disposal, Fluid methods   MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Coloring Agents MeSH
• Water Pollutants, Chemical MeSH

Eighty-three strains belonging to three species of the genus Trametes FR. (T. versicolor, T. hirsuta and T. ochracea) collected in different localities and on different substrates were screened for laccase production. The production of other lignin-modifying enzymes--manganese peroxidase (MnP) and lignin peroxidase (LiP)--and the decolorization ability were also determined in 21 of them. Production variability was relatively high and no significant correlation was found between the origin of the strains (locality, substrate) and the enzyme production. Dikaryons of all 3 species (but not of all their strains) exhibited LiP activity, which was not detected in the respective monokaryons.

• MeSH
• Basidiomycota enzymology   MeSH
• Laccase MeSH
• Lignin metabolism   MeSH
• Monte Carlo Method MeSH
• Multivariate Analysis MeSH
• Altitude MeSH
• Oxidoreductases isolation & purification   metabolism   MeSH
• Peroxidases isolation & purification   metabolism   MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Geographicals
• Bulgaria MeSH
• Czech Republic MeSH
• Yugoslavia MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Laccase MeSH
• lignin peroxidase MeSH Browser
• Lignin MeSH
• manganese peroxidase MeSH Browser
• Oxidoreductases MeSH
• Peroxidases MeSH

The potential use of fungal pellets for decolorization of the textile dyeing wastewater was evaluated. The live pellets of the fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium were found to remove more than 95% of the color of this wastewater within 1 d. The dye-removal capacity was a function of time and was proportional to the agitation rate; the optimum temperature was 30 degrees C. Both live and dead pellets were further examined in a repeated-batch mode for 5 d. The decolorization performance of live pellets remained high and stable for 5 d and they showed twice to thrice higher decolorization capacity than dead pellets.

• MeSH
• Biodegradation, Environmental MeSH
• Water Pollutants, Chemical metabolism   MeSH
• Indoles metabolism   MeSH
• Phanerochaete metabolism   MeSH
• Textile Industry methods   MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Water Pollutants, Chemical MeSH
• indirubin MeSH Browser
• Indoles MeSH

Out of a number of white-rot fungal cultures, strains of Irpex lacteus and Pleurotus ostreatus were selected for degradation of 7 three- and four-ring unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in two contaminated industrial soils. Respective data for removal of PAH in the two industrial soils by I. lacteus were: fluorene (41 and 67%), phenanthrene (20 and 56%), anthracene (29 and 49%), fluoranthene (29 and 57%), pyrene (24 and 42%), chrysene (16 and 32%) and benzo[a]anthracene (13 and 20%). In the same two industrial soils P. ostreatus degraded the PAH with respective removal figures of fluorene (26 and 35%), phenanthrene (0 and 20%), anthracene (19 and 53%), fluoranthene (29 and 31%), pyrene (22 and 42%), chrysene (0 and 42%) and benzo[a]anthracene (0 and 13%). The degradation of PAH was determined against concentration of PAH in non-treated contaminated soils after 14 weeks of incubation. The fungal degradation of PAH in soil was studied simultaneously with ecotoxicity evaluation of fungal treated and non-treated contaminated soils. Compared to non-treated contaminated soil, fungus-treated soil samples indicated decrease in inhibition of bioluminescence in luminescent bacteria (Vibrio fischerii) and increase in germinated mustard (Brassica alba) seeds.

• MeSH
• Biodegradation, Environmental * MeSH
• Fungi enzymology   metabolism   MeSH
• Soil Pollutants metabolism   MeSH
• Pleurotus enzymology   metabolism   MeSH
• Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons chemistry   metabolism   MeSH
• Soil Microbiology MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Soil Pollutants MeSH
• Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons MeSH