Dataset Information

Potential of Wood-Rotting Fungi to Attack Polystyrene Sulfonate and Its Depolymerisation by Gloeophyllum trabeum via Hydroquinone-Driven Fenton Chemistry.

ABSTRACT: Synthetic polymers often pose environmental hazards due to low biodegradation rates and resulting accumulation. In this study, a selection of wood-rotting fungi representing different lignocellulose decay types was screened for oxidative biodegradation of the polymer polystyrene sulfonate (PSS). Brown-rot basidiomycetes showed PSS depolymerisation of up to 50 % reduction in number-average molecular mass (Mn) within 20 days. In-depth investigations with the most efficient depolymeriser, a Gloeophyllum trabeum strain, pointed at extracellular hydroquinone-driven Fenton chemistry responsible for depolymerisation. Detection of hydroxyl radicals present in the culture supernatants showed good compliance with depolymerisation over the time course of PSS degradation. 2,5-Dimethoxy-1,4-hydroquinone (2,5-DMHQ), which was detected in supernatants of active cultures via liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry, was demonstrated to drive the Fenton processes in G. trabeum cultures. Up to 80% reduction in Mn of PSS where observed when fungal cultures were additionally supplemented with 2,5-dimethoxy benzoquinone, the oxidized from of 2,5-DMHQ. Furthermore, 2,5-DMHQ could initiate the Fenton's reagent-mediated PSS depolymerisation in cell-free systems. In contrast, white-rot fungi were unable to cause substantial depolymerising effects despite the expression of lignin-modifying exo-enzymes. Detailed investigations with laccase from Trametes versicolor revealed that only in presence of certain redox mediators limited PSS depolymerisation occurred. Our results indicate that brown-rot fungi might be suitable organisms for the biodegradation of recalcitrant synthetic polymeric pollutants.

SUBMITTER: Krueger MC

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4493105 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Potential of Wood-Rotting Fungi to Attack Polystyrene Sulfonate and Its Depolymerisation by Gloeophyllum trabeum via Hydroquinone-Driven Fenton Chemistry.

Krueger Martin C MC Hofmann Ulrike U Moeder Monika M Schlosser Dietmar D

PloS one 20150706 7

Synthetic polymers often pose environmental hazards due to low biodegradation rates and resulting accumulation. In this study, a selection of wood-rotting fungi representing different lignocellulose decay types was screened for oxidative biodegradation of the polymer polystyrene sulfonate (PSS). Brown-rot basidiomycetes showed PSS depolymerisation of up to 50 % reduction in number-average molecular mass (Mn) within 20 days. In-depth investigations with the most efficient depolymeriser, a Gloeoph ...[more]

PMID: 26147966

Similar Datasets

Project description:Brown rot fungi are primary decomposers of wood and litter in northern forests. Relative to other microbes, these fungi have evolved distinct mechanisms that rapidly depolymerize and metabolize cellulose and hemicellulose without digesting the more recalcitrant lignin. Its efficient degradative system has therefore attracted considerable attention for the development of sustainable biomass conversion technologies. However, there has been a significant lack of genetic tools in brown rot species by which to manipulate genes for both mechanistic studies and engineering applications. To advance brown rot genetic studies, we provided a gene-reporting system that can facilitate genetic manipulations in a model fungus Gloeophyllum trabeum. We first optimized a transformation procedure in G. trabeum, and then transformed the fungus into a constitutive laccase producer with a well-studied white rot laccases gene (from Trametes versicolor). With this, we built a gene reporting system based on laccase gene's expression and its rapid assay using an 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) indicator dye. The laccase reporter system was validated robust enough to allow us to test the effects of donor DNA's formats, protoplast viability, and gene regulatory elements on transformation efficiencies. Going forward, we anticipate the toolset provided in this work would expedite phenotyping studies and genetic engineering of brown rot species. IMPORTANCE One of the most ubiquitous types of decomposers in nature, brown rot fungi, has lacked robust genetic tools by which to manipulate genes and understand its biology. Brown rot fungi are primary decomposers in northern forests helping recycle the encased carbons in trees back to ecosystem. Relative to other microbes, these fungi employ distinctive mechanisms to disrupt and consume the lignified polysaccharides in wood. Its decay mechanism allows fast, selective carbohydrate catabolization, but without digesting lignin-a barren component that produces least energy trade back for fungal metabolisms. Thus, its efficient degradative system provides a great platform for developing sustainable biotechnologies for biomass conversions. However, progress has been hampered by the lack genetic tools facilitating mechanistic studies and engineering applications. Here, the laccase reporter system provides a genetic toolset for genetic manipulations in brown rot species, which we expect would advance relevant genetic studies for discovering and harnessing the unique fungal degradative mechanisms.

Dataset Information

Potential of Wood-Rotting Fungi to Attack Polystyrene Sulfonate and Its Depolymerisation by Gloeophyllum trabeum via Hydroquinone-Driven Fenton Chemistry.

Publications

Potential of Wood-Rotting Fungi to Attack Polystyrene Sulfonate and Its Depolymerisation by Gloeophyllum trabeum via Hydroquinone-Driven Fenton Chemistry.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets