Biotransformation of the Insecticide Lindane by the White Rot Basidiomycete Phanerochaete chrysosporium

Biotransformation of the insecticide lindane by the white rot basidiomycete Phanerochaete chrysosporium has been investigated in liquid cultures. Some polar metabolites and carbon dioxide were produced from the pesticide. Among the metabolites identified were tetrachlorocyclohexene, tetrachlorocyclohexene epoxide and tetrachlorocyclohexenol. When used as a substrate, tetrachlorocyclohexene was also converted by the fungus to tetrachlorocyclohexenol, polar metabolites and carbon dioxide. Three incubation conditions leading to low and high peroxidase production were assayed. Data from these experiments, as well as in‐vitro incubations with purified enzymes, ruled out any involvement of the peroxidases in lindane biotransformation and mineralization. Moreover, 1‐aminobenzotriazole (a P450 inactivator) drastically reduced pesticide metabolism. Conversely, phenobarbital (a P450 inducer) did not significantly increase lindane breakdown.