Effects of lead on antioxidative systems of some white rot fungi

Heavy metals input into the environment, either terrestrial or aquatic, is an important aspect of environmental pollution. Organisms are exposed to potentially toxic chemicals such as xenobiotics or heavy metal in environment. Antioxidant protection system, made up of some enzymes of the living organisms as catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione S-transferase (GST), has function for protection from these xenobiotic and toxic materials. These enzymes are the strong biomarkers of oxidative stress formed in cell. In this study the effect of different concentrations of lead (Pb) (20 ppm and 200 ppm) on Phanerochaete chrysosporium?s antioxidant system was investigated at different exposure time (30, 60, 360, 1440th min). The results of inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) analysis indicated that accumulation of lead in Phanerochaete chrysosporium was dose-dependent. Changes on CAT, GST, GR enzyme activities and in total level of GSH were determined as increasing and decreasing related on exposure time. At the same time the effect of Pb (0.001-0.1 mM) on fungal growth was investigated in the white rot fungi Pleurotus sajor-caju, Pleurotus ostreatus and Pleurotus florida.