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Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons storage by Fusarium solani in intracellular lipid vesicles

Anthony Verdin1, Anissa Lounès-Hadj Sahraoui, Ray Newsam

  • 1Laboratoire de Mycologie/Phytopathologie/Environnement, Université du Littoral-Côte d'Opale, 17 avenue Blériot, BP 699, 62228 Calais Cedex, France.

Environmental Pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)
|November 3, 2004
PubMed

Insights

The fungus Fusarium solani stores polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in lipid vesicles via a passive process. This storage mechanism is common in fungi and not always linked to PAH degradation.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental microbiology
  • Bioremediation
  • Fungal metabolism

Background:

  • Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are persistent organic pollutants.
  • Fungal species are increasingly recognized for their potential in bioremediation.
  • Understanding PAH accumulation mechanisms in fungi is crucial for developing effective remediation strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the accumulation and elimination of PAHs in the fungus Fusarium solani.
  • To elucidate the cellular mechanisms underlying PAH storage in fungal hyphae.
  • To determine the relationship between PAH storage and degradation in F. solani.

Main Methods:

  • Culturing Fusarium solani on a synthetic medium supplemented with benzo[a]pyrene.
  • Utilizing lipid-specific dyes (Sudan III, Rhodamine B) to identify storage sites.
  • Microscopic analysis to observe fluorescence localization of Rhodamine B and benzo[a]pyrene.
  • Testing the effect of metabolic inhibitors (sodium azide, colchicine, cytochalasin) on PAH transport.

Main Results:

  • Fusarium solani hyphae contain numerous lipid vesicles that accumulate benzo[a]pyrene.
  • PAH accumulation occurs via a passive, temperature-independent process.
  • Inhibitors of cellular respiration and cytoskeleton did not impede PAH transport and storage.
  • F. solani demonstrated degradation of various PAHs at different rates.
  • Intracellular PAH storage was observed in numerous other fungal species.

Conclusions:

  • Fusarium solani stores polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) within pre-existing lipid vesicles.
  • PAH uptake and storage by F. solani is a passive process independent of cellular metabolism.
  • Lipid vesicle storage of PAHs is a widespread phenomenon in fungi, not always coupled with degradation.

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