Breakdown Products in the Metabolic Pathway of Anthracene Degradation by a Ligninolytic Fungus Polyporus sp S133

Polyporus sp. S133 fungi were selected based on their ability to degrade anthracene in liquid media. The degradation efficiency of anthracene increased by adding 0.5% Tween 80 to reach 71%; agitation at 120 rev/min increased the degradation to 92% after 30 days of incubation. Enzymes such as manganese peroxidase (MnP), lignin peroxidase (LiP), laccase, 1,2-dioxygenase and 2,3-dioxgenase were produced by Polyporus sp. S133 during incubation, and the highest enzyme activity was 182.3 U l(-1) by 1,2-dioxygenase after 20 days of incubation. These results indicate that ligninolytic and dioxygenase enzymes secreted from Polyporus sp. S133 could play an important role in anthracene degradation efficiency. The metabolites detected through the degradation pathway were anthraquinone, phthalic acid, benzoic acid and catechol.