Metabolism and detoxification of TNT by Phanerochaete chrysosporium.

Several lines of evidence suggest that TNT detoxification by Phanerochaete chrysosporium is through reduction. Rates of TNT reduction were directly correlated with mycelial mass and TNT concentration. Toxicity was inversely related to the amount of fungus. TNT toxicity was identical in both ligninolytic and nonligninolytic cultures. Rapid disappearance of the reduced metabolites coincided with production of the manganese-dependent peroxidases and mineralization of TNT was not observed until the lignin peroxidases were detected.