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Fungal Enzymes for Bioremediation of Xenobiotic Compounds

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Recent Advancement in White Biotechnology Through Fungi

Part of the book series: Fungal Biology ((FUNGBIO))

Abstract

In response to increased global industrialization and environmental pollution by toxic xenobiotics, foreign substances transgressing an ecosystem or a living organism, the need for new cost-effective decontamination and remediation methods is greater than ever. This chapter focuses on the role and potential application of fungal enzymes and their respective mechanisms in the bioremediation of various xenobiotics. Fungal bioremediatory enzymes exhibit uniquely broad substrate ranges. Among the enzymes examined herein are laccases (LAC), lignin peroxidases (LiP), manganese peroxidases (MnP), versatile peroxidases (VP), cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (P450), and unspecific peroxygenases (UPO). Each of these enzymes has been demonstrated to transform and remediate toxic xenobiotics to less hazardous or bioactive forms. However, there are nuanced considerations for each class of enzyme. Laccases and peroxidases each have their advantages and limitations; laccases can use molecular oxygen, while peroxidases require a supply of H2O2. On the other hand, peroxidases can function in a wider pH range and carry a high redox potential. P450s represent an incredibly promising and diverse superfamily of enzymes which remain to fully understood as is the case with UPOs. By isolating these enzymes and immobilizing them, the potential adverse effects of introducing a novel species into an already polluted and stressed environment are mitigated. Furthermore, while fungi are quite robust they are limited by environmental toxicity – a limitation that is overcome by employing isolated fungal enzymes. Enzymatic efficiency and longevity are, however, dependent on many variables such as pH, temperature, and environmental availability of various minerals and co-substrates. As a result, further investigation into fungal enzyme bioremediation and enzyme optimization is warranted to realize the tremendous biotechnical potential of these enzymes in the field of xenobiotic bioremediation. Genetic engineering for enzyme optimization and new enzyme immobilization approaches to generate stable and efficient enzyme-based detoxification systems are exciting prospects in development.

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Correspondence to Rajinikanth Mohan .

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Baker, P., Tiroumalechetty, A., Mohan, R. (2019). Fungal Enzymes for Bioremediation of Xenobiotic Compounds. In: Yadav, A., Singh, S., Mishra, S., Gupta, A. (eds) Recent Advancement in White Biotechnology Through Fungi. Fungal Biology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-25506-0_19

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