POTENTIAL FOR BIOREMEDIATION OF XENOBIOTIC COMPOUNDS BY THE WHITE-ROTFUNGUS PHANEROCHAETE-CHRYSOSPORIUM

The white-rot fungi produce an unusual enzyme system, characterized by a specialized group of peroxidases, that catalyzes the degradation of the complex plant polymer lignin. This Ligninolytic system shows a hi gh degree of nonspecificity and oxidizes a very large variety of compo unds in addition to lignin. Among these compounds are numerous environ mental pollutants. Thus, the white-rot fungi show considerable promise as bioremediation agents for use in the restoration of environments c ont-aminated by xenobiotic molecules. One white-rot fungus, Phanerocha ete chrysosporium, has been studied in great detail with regard to lig ninolytic enzymes and the degradation of anthropogenic chemicals. It h as been widely promoted as a bioremediation agent. This article examin es literature concerning the degradation of xenobiotic compounds by Ph anerochaete chrysosporium and attempts to critically assess this organ ism's real potential as a bioremediation tool.