Discovering Phlebia acerina for efficient degradation of bisphenol S and insights into its degradation mechanism

Bisphenol S (BPS) has attracted much attention as an emerging hazardous contaminant due to its endocrine disruption and oncogenic effects. Although white-rot fungi have remarkable bioremediation capabilities for some bisphenols, little is known about their performance in BPS degradation. In this study, the newly discovered Phlebia acerina S-LWZ20190614-6 exhibited high capacity to degrade BPS. To further explore the mechanism of BPS degradation by P. acerina S-LWZ20190614-6, the whole-genome background and degradation pathways were investigated. Five low-toxicity metabolites were detected during the BPS biodegradation process, and a strong correlation was found between this biodegradation process and the interactions between BPS and ligninolytic enzymes. Moreover, transcriptomic analysis revealed that genes related to DNA replication and repair, ABC transporters, and fatty acid metabolism were involved in this BPS degradation process. Overall, this study provides insights into the achievement of BPS biodegradation by white-rot fungi.