Biodegradation aspects of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs): A review

White-rot fungi and their enzymes for the treatment of industrial dye effluents.

Bioremediation of high molecular weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: a review of the microbial degradation of benzo[a]pyrene.

Review: lignin conversion by manganese peroxidase (MnP)

The ligninolytic enzymes of white-rot fungi have a broad substrate specificity and have been implicated in the transformation and mineralization of organopollutants with structural similarities to lignin. This review presents evidence for the involvement of these enzymes in white-rot fungal degradation of munitions waste, pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, bleach plant effluent, synthetic dyes, synthetic polymers, and wood preservatives. Factors relating to the feasibility of using white-rot fungi in bioremediation treatments for organopollutants are discussed.

Feasibility of bioremediation by white-rot fungi.

Effects of ryegrass on biodegradation of hydrocarbons in soil

Somatostatin, also known as somatotropin-release inhibitory factor, is a cyclopeptide that exerts potent inhibitory actions on hormone secretion and neuronal excitability Its physiologic functions are mediated by five G protein–coupled receptors (GPCRs) called somatostatin receptor (SST)1–5 These five receptors share common structural features and signaling mechanisms but differ in their cellular and subcellular localization and mode of regulation SST2 and SST5 receptors have evolved as primary targets for pharmacological treatment of pituitary adenomas and neuroendocrine tumors In addition, SST2 is a prototypical GPCR for the development of peptide-based radiopharmaceuticals for diagnostic and therapeutic interventions This review article summarizes findings published in the last 25 years on the physiology, pharmacology, and clinical applications related to SSTs We also discuss potential future developments and propose a new nomenclature

International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology. CV. Somatostatin Receptors: Structure, Function, Ligands, and New Nomenclature.

Classical opioid analgesics, including morphine, mediate all of their desired and undesired effects by specific activation of the μ-opioid receptor (μ receptor). The use of morphine for treating chronic pain, however, is limited by the development of constipation, respiratory depression, tolerance and dependence. Analgesic effects can also be mediated through other members of the opioid receptor family such as the κ-opioid receptor (κ receptor), δ-opioid receptor (δ receptor) and the nociceptin/orphanin FQ peptide receptor (NOP receptor). Currently, a new generation of opioid analgesics is being developed that can simultaneously bind with high affinity to multiple opioid receptors. With this new action profile, it is hoped that additional analgesic effects and fewer side effects can be achieved. Recent research is mainly focused on the development of bifunctional μ/NOP receptor agonists, which has already led to novel lead structures such as the spiroindole-based cebranopadol and a compound class with a piperidin-4-yl-1,3-dihydroindol-2-one backbone (SR16835/AT-202 and SR14150/AT-200). In addition, the ornivol BU08028 is an analogue of the clinically well-established buprenorphine. Moreover, the morphinan-based nalfurafine exerts its effect with a dominant κ receptor-component and is therefore utilized in the treatment of pruritus. The very potent dihydroetorphine is a true multi-receptor opioid ligand in that it binds to μ, κ and δ receptors. The main focus of this review is to assess the paradigm of opioid ligands targeting multiple receptors with a single chemical entity. We reflect on this rationale by discussing the biological actions of particular multi-opioid receptor ligands, but not on their medicinal chemistry and design.

https://bpspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/bph.13809

Targeting multiple opioid receptors - improved analgesics with reduced side effects?

The activity to metabolize the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) phenanthrene, anthracene, pyrene, fluorene and fluoranthene by Trametes versicolor, Pleurotus ostreatus (white rot fungi), Laetiporus sulphureus, Daedaela quercina, Flamulina velutipes (brown rot fungi), Marasmiellus sp. (litter decaying fungus) and Penicillium sp. M 1 (isolated from a PAH contaminated soil sample) were compared. Screening methods for the presence of exoenzymes (peroxidases, polyphenoloxidases, "radical generating" enzymes) were evaluated for their use in screenings for fungi degrading PAH. Laetiporus sulphureus and Penicillium sp. M 1 cometabolize several PAH with rates comparable to white rot fungi. In most of the cases the patterns of extracellular peroxidases indicate the potential of fungi to degrade PAH.

Metabolism of PAH by fungi and correlation with extracellular enzymatic activities

The in vitro-oxidation of the three- and four-ring polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) anthracene, phenanthrene, pyrene and fluoranthene by preparations of extracellular lignin peroxidase (LiP), manganese peroxidase (MnP) and laccase (Lacc) of the white rot fungus Nematoloma frowardii and by mushroom tyrosinase (Tyr) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was investigated. LiP transformed 58.6% of anthracene and 34.2% of pyrene, whereas 31.5% of anthracene and 11.2% pyrene were oxidized by MnP. In the presence of the mediating substances veratryl alcohol (for LiP), GSH (for MnP), and ABTS (for Lacc, Tyr, HRP), the conversion of PAH was enhanced in most cases. Inclusion of PAH-derivatives, known as intermediates or potential dead-end-products of microbial PAH metabolism, in the in vitro-oxidation studies, demonstrated that the hydroxylated PAH metabolites served as substrates for all oxidoreductases tested, whereas PAH-quinones and oxo-metabolites were not transformed.

Thomas Günther

Papers

Effects of ryegrass on biodegradation of hydrocarbons in soil

International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology. CV. Somatostatin Receptors: Structure, Function, Ligands, and New Nomenclature.

Targeting multiple opioid receptors - improved analgesics with reduced side effects?

Metabolism of PAH by fungi and correlation with extracellular enzymatic activities

Oxidation of pah and pah-derivatives by fungal and plant oxidoreductases