Decolorization and degradation of daunomycin by Bjerkandera adusta R59 strain

The ability of Bjerkandera adusta R59 strain to degrade anthraquinonic antibiotic (daunomycin) points on its possible aptitudes for decomposing of other anthraquinonic derivatives, e.g. lignocellulose subunits or metabolically related lipids, present in wood. This study was performed to investigate the possibility of B. adusta R59 to synthesize enzymes participating in decay of wood compounds (including lignin, celluloses, hemicelluloses and lipids). Geotrichum-like strain, anamorphic stadium of B. adusta, white-rot fungus, was isolated from soil. It was found to completely decolorize and degrade 10% daunomycin postproduction effluent during 10 days of incubation at 26 °C. R59 strain produces only small activities of lignolytic enzymes when grown on wheat straw or beech sawdust-containing media but in the presence of humic acids derived from brown coal synthesizes significant activities of lacease and lipase. This phenomenon was coupled with entering the idiophase by this fungus and appearance of aerial mycelium. The ability of B. adusta R59 strain to degrade humic acids from brown coal could be useful in constructing of new generation of biologically active filters for purification of humic acids-contaminated comestible waters.