Enzymes produced by the fungus Gliocladium roseum mediate the break down of a common industrial compound by initiating the biodegredation process.
The biologically-mediated breakdown of chemicals specifically designed to resist biologically-mediated breakdown is an obvious challenge. Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) have a number of common uses such as wood preservatives, antistatic agents, corrosion inhibitors, and textile softeners. Widespread use is leading to increasing contamination of water and soils. Gliocladium roseum is a fungus capable of secreting enzymes that cleave QACs resulting in by-products that are readily broken down by common enzymes. Laboratory tests have confirmed G. roseum’s ability to grow on QAC-treated wood blocks and decompose the toxic preservative.
