Degradation of pentachlorophenol by Mycena avenacea TA 8480--identification of initial dechlorinated metabolites

Cultures of the basidiomycete Mycena avenacea TA 8480 were shown to metabolize pentachlorophenol (PCP), 2,3,5,6-tetrachloro-p-hydroquinone (TeCHQ), and 2,3,5,6-tetrachloro-p-benzoquinone (TeCBQ). The first metabolite of the PCP degradation pathway was identified as TeCBQ which in a second reaction is reduced to the hydroquinone TeCHQ. Subsequently dechlorination of TeCHQ yielded 3,5,6-trichloro-2-hydroxy-p-benzoquinone (TCOHBQ). The specific degradation rate for PCP was 1.4 mg x g dry mycelia -1 x day-1. The initial dechlorination rate of TeCHQ was 5.9 mg x g dry mycelia-1 x hour-1. None of the compounds supported growth of the fungus.