Biodegradation of endocrine-disrupting compounds and suppression of estrogenic activity by ligninolytic fungi

• Published in: Chemosphere (Oxford) 2009-05, Vol.75 (6), p.745-750
• Main Authors: Cajthaml, Tomáš, Křesinová, Zdena, Svobodová, Kateřina, Möder, Monika
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Basidiomycota; Benzhydryl Compounds; Biodegradation; Biodegradation of pollutants; Biodegradation, Environmental; Biological and medical sciences; Biotechnology; Bjerkandera adusta; chemical residues; decay fungi; Dichomitus squalens; Endocrine disrupters; Endocrine Disruptors - metabolism; endocrine-disrupting chemicals; Environment and pollution; estrogenic properties; Ethinyl Estradiol - metabolism; Ethinylestradiol; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fungi - metabolism; Global environmental pollution; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; Irpex lacteus; ligninolytic microorganisms; Nonylphenol; Phanerochaete; Phanerochaete chrysosporium; Phenols - metabolism; Pleurotus - metabolism; Pleurotus ostreatus; pollutants; Pollution; Pycnoporus - metabolism; Pycnoporus cinnabarinus; Trametes - metabolism; Trametes versicolor; White rot fungi
• ISSN: 0045-6535; 1879-1298
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2009.01.034

Endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) represent a large group of substances of natural and anthropogenic origin. They are widely distributed in the environment and can pose serious risks to aquatic organisms and to public health. In this study, 4-n-nonylphenol, technical 4-nonylphenol, bisphenol A, 17α-ethinylestradiol, and triclosan were biodegraded by eight ligninolytic fungal strains ( Irpex lacteus 617/93, Bjerkandera adusta 606/93, Phanerochaete chrysosporium ME 446, Phanerochaete magnoliae CCBAS 134/I, Pleurotus ostreatus 3004 CCBAS 278, Trametes versicolor 167/93, Pycnoporus cinnabarinus CCBAS 595, Dichomitus squalens CCBAS 750). The results show that under the used conditions the fungi were able to degrade the EDCs within 14 d of cultivation with exception of B. adusta and P. chrysosporium in the case of triclosane and bisphenol A, respectively. I. lacteus and P. ostreatus were found to be most efficient EDC degraders with their degradation efficiency exceeding 90% or 80%, respectively, in 7 d. Both fungi degraded technical 4-nonylphenol, bisphenol-A, and 17α-ethinylestradiol below the detection limit within first 3 d of cultivation. In general, estrogenic activities assayed with a recombinant yeast test decreased with advanced degradation. However, in case of I. lacteus, P. ostreatus, and P. chrysosporium the yeast assay showed a residual estrogenic activity (28-85% of initial) in 17α-ethinylestradiol cultures. Estrogenic activity in B. adusta cultures temporally increased during degradation of technical 4-nonylphenol, suggesting a production of endocrine-active intermediates. Attention was paid also to the effects of EDCs on the ligninolytic enzyme activities of the different fungi strains to evaluate their possible stimulation or suppression of activities during the biodegradation processes.