Biotransformation of 1-naphthol by a strictly aquatic fungus

Curr Microbiol. 2006 Mar;52(3):216-20. doi: 10.1007/s00284-005-0239-z. Epub 2006 Feb 14.

Abstract

The aquatic hyphomycete Heliscus lugdunensis belongs to a group of exclusively aquatic mitosporic fungi with an only scarcely explored potential to oxidatively attack xenobiotic compounds, and was used to study the biotransformation of the environmental pollutant metabolite 1-naphthol. H. lugdunensis metabolized approximately 74% of 1-naphthol within 5 days. The identification and quantification of degradation products using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, and high performance liquid chromatography revealed that approximately 12% of the parent compound was converted into 1-naphthylsulfate, 3% was transformed into 1-methoxy-naphthalene, and less than 1% was converted into 1,4-naphthoquinone. A further metabolite, most likely 4-hydroxy-1-naphthylsulfate, was also detected. In contrast to sulfate conjugate metabolites, no glucuronide and glucoside conjugates of 1-naphthol were found, and neither UDP-glucuronyltransferase nor UDP-glucosyltransferase present in H. lugdunensis showed activity towards 1-naphthol. These results support a role of fungi adapted to aquatic environments in affecting the environmental fate of pollutants in aquatic ecosystems.

MeSH terms

  • Biotransformation
  • Glucuronosyltransferase / analysis
  • Glucuronosyltransferase / metabolism
  • Hypocreales / chemistry
  • Hypocreales / enzymology
  • Hypocreales / metabolism*
  • Naphthalenes / analysis
  • Naphthols / metabolism*
  • Naphthoquinones / analysis
  • Sulfuric Acid Esters / analysis
  • Water Microbiology*

Substances

  • Naphthalenes
  • Naphthols
  • Naphthoquinones
  • Sulfuric Acid Esters
  • naphthyl sulfate
  • 1-naphthol
  • 1-methoxynaphthalene
  • Glucuronosyltransferase
  • 1,4-naphthoquinone