Mineralization of benzo[a]pyrene by Marasmiellus troyanus, a mushroom isolated from a toxic waste site

Mycelia from the mushroom Marasmiellus troyanus were grown in the presence of radiolabeled benzo[a]pyrene in liquid culture. After 15 days, 8.1% of th e label from M. troyanus cultures was recovered in CO, as compared to 1.1% for Phanerochaete chrysosporium and 0.2% for Aspergillus niger. M. troyanus efficiently transformed B[a]P into water soluble metabolites with 64% of t he label recovered in the water soluble fraction as compared to 11.7% for P . chrysosporium and 4.1% for A. niger. Glucuronic acid and sulfate conjugat es of B[a]P were identified from the aqueous fraction of cultures of M. tro yanus, after 17 days.