Biodegradation of malachite green by Brevibacillus laterosporus MTCC 2298.

Brevibacillus laterosporus MTCC 2298 was screened for the decolorization of eight triphenylmethane dyes. Decolorization of malachite green was found to be fastest (87% within 3 hours, at the concentration 0.1 g/L) among the screened dyes. Various triphenylmethane dyes showed differential induction patterns of the dye-degrading enzymes. The activities of the laccase, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-dichlorophenolindophenol reductase (NADH-DCIP reductase), malachite green reductase, and aminopyrine N-demethylase were increased in the cell-free extract obtained after decolorization of malachite green. Fourier transform infrared spectral analysis indicated formation of N-demethylated products, including primary and secondary aryl amines. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis confirmed the transformation of malachite green into new metabolites rather than its reduced form, leucomalachite green. Gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy analysis detected new degradation products, such as reduced tetradesmethyl leucomalachite green (m/z 283) and [4-(1-cyclohexyl)-(1'-phenyl)-methyl]-2, 4-hexenoic acid (m/z 282). Complete decolorization of malachite green also was observed by the partially purified laccase from B. laterosporus.