Biotransformation of industrial tannins by filamentous fungi.

Abstract

Tannins are secondary metabolites that are widely distributed in the plant kingdom. They act as growth inhibitors for many microorganisms: they are released upon microbial attack, helping to fight infection in plant tissues. Extraction of tannins from plants is an active industrial sector with several applications, including oenology, animal feeding, mining, the chemical industry, and, in particular, the tanning industry. However, tannins are also considered very recalcitrant pollutants in wastewater of diverse origin. The ability to grow on plant substrates rich in tannins and on industrial tannin preparations is usually considered typical of some species of fungi. These organisms are able to tolerate the toxicity of tannins thanks to the production of enzymes that transform or degrade these substrates, mainly through hydrolysis and oxidation. Filamentous fungi capable of degrading tannins could have a strong environmental impact as bioremediation agents, in particular in the treatment of tanning wastewaters.

• Authors: Valeria Prigione, Federica Spina, Valeria Tigini, Samuele Giovando, Giovanna Cristina Varese
• Journal: Applied microbiology and biotechnology (Appl Microbiol Biotechnol) Vol. 102 Issue 24 Pg. 10361-10375 (Dec 2018) ISSN: 1432-0614 [Electronic] Germany
• PMID: 30293196 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Fungal Proteins
• Tannins
• Laccase

Topics

• Biotransformation
• Fungal Proteins (metabolism)
• Fungi (drug effects, metabolism)
• Laccase (metabolism)
• Tannins (chemistry, metabolism, pharmacology)
• Waste Disposal, Fluid (methods)