Crude enzymatic extract from Dictyopanus pusillus LMB4 as a biotechnological tool for crystal violet biodegradation

Crystal violet is a hazardous organic triphenylmethane dye used for various dyeing processes as well as for bacterial identification. A strategy for dye pre-treatment is the use of macromycetes from Basidiomycota to achieve mineralization of hazardous compounds trough ligninolytic enzymes. Biocatalysis of hazardous compounds offers a biotechnological alternative over traditional physicochemical processes. Crystal violet degradation by the native ligninolytic isolate Dictyopanus pusillus LMB4 was assessed. Single and combined effects of enzymatic variables in crystal violet degradation were evaluated for a crude enzymatic extract from D. pusillus LMB4 recovered by solid-state fermentation. Enzymatic variables optimization improved the crystal violet degradation up to 81%. Results showed reduction of intermediate compounds from crystal violet degradation and a hypothetical degradation pathway was proposed based on GS-MS analyses. To the best of our knowledge, this represents the first report that evaluates crystal violet degradation by crude enzymatic extracts from Dictyopanus genera.