Dibenzyl sulfide metabolism by white rot fungi

• Published in: Applied and Environmental Microbiology Vol. 69; no. 2; pp. 1320 - 1324
• Main Authors: Van Hamme, J.D, Wong, E.T, Dettman, H, Gray, M.R, Pickard, M.A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Society for Microbiology 01-02-2003
• Subjects: aromatic compounds; Basidiomycota - enzymology; Basidiomycota - growth & development; Benzyl Compounds - metabolism; biodegradation; Biological and medical sciences; Coriolus hirsutus; Coriolus versicolor; Culture Media; cytochrome P-450; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System - metabolism; dibenzyl sulfone; enzyme activity; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fungi; industrial applications; industrial microbiology; Laccase; Metabolism; metabolites; Microbiology; Mycology; organic sulfur compounds; oxidation; Oxidation-Reduction; Oxidoreductases - metabolism; petroleum; petroleum industry; Phanerochaete - metabolism; Phanerochaete chrysosporium; Time Factors; Trametes; Trametes trogii; Tyromyces palustris; white-rot fungi
• ISSN: 0099-2240; 1098-5336
• DOI: 10.1128/AEM.69.2.1320-1324.2003

Microbial metabolism of organosulfur compounds is of interest in the petroleum industry for in-field viscosity reduction and desulfurization. Here, dibenzyl sulfide (DBS) metabolism in white rot fungi was studied. Trametes trogii UAMH 8156, Trametes hirsuta UAMH 8165, Phanerochaete chrysosporium ATCC 24725, Trametes versicolor IFO 30340 (formerly Coriolus sp.), and Tyromyces palustris IFO 30339 all oxidized DBS to dibenzyl sulfoxide prior to oxidation to dibenzyl sulfone. The cytochrome P-450 inhibitor 1-aminobenzotriazole eliminated dibenzyl sulfoxide oxidation. Laccase activity (0.15 U/ml) was detected in the Trametes cultures, and concentrated culture supernatant and pure laccase catalyzed DBS oxidation to dibenzyl sulfoxide more efficiently in the presence of 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonate) (ABTS) than in its absence. These data suggest that the first oxidation step is catalyzed by extracellular enzymes but that subsequent metabolism is cytochrome P-450 mediated.