DEGRADATION OF POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC-HYDROCARBONS BY MANGANESE PEROXIDASE OF NEMATOLOMA-FROWARDII

The degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by a manganese per oxidase crude preparation of Nematoloma frowardii was demonstrated for a mixture of eight different polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and th e five individual polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons phenanthrene, anthr acene, pyrene, fluoranthene, and benzo[a]pyrene. Oxidation of polycycl ic aromatic hydrocarbons was enhanced by the addition of glutathione, a mediator substance, able to form reactive thiyl radicals. Glutathion e-mediated manganese peroxidase (1.96 U ml(-1)) was capable of mineral izing [C-14]pyrene (7.3%), [C-14]anthracene (4.7%), [C-14]benzo[a]pyre ne (4.0%), [C-14]benz[a]anthracene (2.9%), and [C-14]phenanthrene (2.5 %) in a period of 168 h. This is the first description of direct enzym atic mineralization of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by manganese p eroxidase, and indicates their important role in the oxidation of poly cyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by wood-decaying fungi.