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Degradation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons by Rigidoporus lignosus and its Laccase in the Presence of Redox Mediators

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Abstract

The metabolism of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) was studied in vivo and in vitro in systems consisting of Rigidoporus lignosus and its laccase, in the presence of so-called “mediator” compounds. The static culture of the native fungal strain was able to metabolize anthracene and 2-methylanthracene, but not 9-nitroanthracene. The addition of redox mediators 2,2’-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), 1-hydroxybenzotriazole (HBT) or violuric acid (VA) led to a significant increase in the degradation of substrates. The oxidation of PAHs was not significant when purified laccase was used without the addition of mediators. The addition of these compounds increased the oxidation of all substrates by approximately 70–80% after 72 h of incubation. The degradation rate was highest for 2-methylanthracene in the presence of VA.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported in part by a grant from the Regione Siciliana, in the framework of Project 1999/IT.16.1.PO.011/3.13/7.2.4/339 Prot.238 “Formazione per la ricerca nel campo della bonifica dei siti contaminati” and from the Istituto Nazionale Biostrutture e Biosistemi.

We would like to thank M. D. Wilkinson for his revision of the English version of the paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Catania, Viale Andrea Doria, 6, 95125, Catania, Italy

    M. T. Cambria, Z. Minniti & V. Librando

  2. National Institute of Biostructures and Biosystems, University of Catania, Viale Andrea Doria, 6, 95125, Catania, Italy

    M. T. Cambria & A. Cambria

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  1. M. T. Cambria
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  2. Z. Minniti
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Correspondence to A. Cambria.

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Cambria, M.T., Minniti, Z., Librando, V. et al. Degradation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons by Rigidoporus lignosus and its Laccase in the Presence of Redox Mediators. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 149, 1–8 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-007-8100-4

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