BIOTRANSFORMATION OF THE INSECTICIDE LINDANE BY THE WHITE-ROT BASIDIOMYCETE PHANEROCHAETE-CHRYSOSPORIUM

Biotransformation of the insecticide lindane by the white rot basidiom ycete Phanerochaete chrysosporium has been investigated in liquid cult ures. Some polar metabolites and carbon dioxide were produced from the pesticide. Among the metabolites identified were tetrachlorocyclohexe ne, tetrachlorocyclohexene epoxide and tetrachlorocyclohexenol. When u sed as a substrate, tetrachlorocyclohexene was also converted by the f ungus to tetrachlorocyclohexenol, polar metabolites and carbon dioxide . Three incubation conditions leading to low and high peroxidase produ ction were assayed. Data from these experiments, as well as in-vitro i ncubations with purified enzymes, ruled out any involvement of the per oxidases in lindane biotransformation and mineralization. Moreover, 1- aminobenzotriazole (a P450 inactivator) drastically reduced pesticide metabolism. Conversely, phenobarbital (a P450 inducer) did not signifi cantly increase lindane breakdown.