J. Bumpus, R. Powers, Tonya Sun
1993
Citations
1
Influential Citations
51
Citations
Journal
Fungal Biology
Abstract
DDE (1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)ethene) is an extremely persistent environmental pollutant. Furthermore, the conversion of DDT (1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)ethane to DDE by microorganisms has been termed a ‘dead-end side reaction’. In the present study we show that the wood-rotting basidiomycete Phanerochaete chrysosporium is able to degrade DDE. Biodegradation is demonstrated by formation of [14C]CO2 from [14C]DDE, by mass balance analysis and by identification of 4,4′-dichlorobenzophenone (DBP) as a metabolite of DDE.