Changes in the activities of enzymes involved in the degradation of butylbenzyl phthalate by Pleurotus ostreatus.

Degradation of butylbenzyl phthalate (BBP) by the white rot fungus Pleurotus ostreatus and the activities of some degrading enzymes were examined in two different media containing 100 mg/l of the compound. P. ostreatus pregrown for 7 days in complex YMG medium was able to completely degrade BBP within an additional 24 h but degraded only 35 mg/l of BBP in 5 days of incubation in minimal medium. Fungal cell mass in the culture in YMG medium was higher in the presence than in the absence of BBP. The esterase activity of the fungal culture in YMG medium was higher than that in minimal medium and increased with the addition of BBP. On the contrary, laccase activity was higher in minimal medium and it did not increase upon the addition of BBP. General peroxidase activity increased for a few days after the addition of BBP to both media. The degradation of BBP and its metabolites by P. ostreatus thus may be attributed mostly to esterase rather than lignin-degrading laccase. In addition, the activities of the enzymes involved in BBP degradation and their changes varied significantly in the different media and culture conditions.