Metabolic Biodegradation Pathway of Fluoranthene by Indigenous Trichoderma lixii and Talaromyces pinophilus spp.

Two indigenous ascomycetes fungi, Trichoderma lixii strain FLU1 (TlFLU1) and Talaromyces pinophilus strain FLU12 (TpFLU12), were isolated from benzo(b)fluoranthene-enriched activated sludge and tested for bio-catalytically degrade fluoranthene as a sole carbon source. TlFLU1 and TpFLU12 degraded 98 and 99% of 400 mg/L of fluoranthene after 16 and 12 d incubation period, respectively. Degradation correlated with the upregulation of expression of ligninolytic enzymes. The GC-MS and FTIR analysis of the degradation products suggest that the degradation is initiated at the C1-C2 position of the compound ring via oxygenation and ring cleavage to form 9-oxo-9H-fluorene-1-carboxylic acid before undergoing ring cleavage to yield fluorenone, which then proceeds through the ss-Ketoadipate pathway via benzene-1,2,3-tricarboxylic acid. The degradation rate is better fitted in the first-order and zero-order kinetic model for TlFLU1 and TpFLU12, respectively. The metabolites from the TlFLU1 degradation media are shown to be toxic in Vibryo parahaemolyticus after 6 h of exposure with effective concentration (EC50) and toxicity unit (TU) values of 14.25 mg/L and 7.018%, respectively, while also being observed as non-toxic from TpFLU12 degradation media with an EC50 and TU values of 197.1 mg/L and 0.507%, respectively. Results from this study show efficient metabolism of fluoranthene into an innocuous state by TlFLU1 and TpFLU12.

Automated summary

Two indigenous ascomycetes fungi, TlFLU1 and TpFLU12, degraded 98 and 99% of fluoranthene, respectively. Degradation was correlated with upregulation of ligninolytic enzymes and the degradation pathway was determined. The metabolites from TlFLU1 degradation were shown to be toxic to Vibryo parahaemolyticus, while those from TpFLU12 degradation were non-toxic. This study demonstrates the efficient metabolism of fluoranthene by TlFLU1 and TpFLU12.