Abstract
Aspergillus ochraceus (NCIM-1146) has shown the ability to degrade cholesterol, camphor and naphthalene, when 96 h grown mycelium incubated in medium containing these organic compounds. Presence of higher level of electron transport components and biotransformation enzyme activity were observed in Aspergillus ochraceus, when grown in potato dextrose medium for 96 h. The enzyme activity preferred NADPH as a cofactor and shows inhibition in the presence of CO, indicating cytochrome P-450 mediated reactions. A significant increase in the levels of electron transport components and biotransformation enzyme activity were observed in presence of different inducers (viz. cholesterol, camphor, naphthalene, veratrole, phenobarbital, n-hexane, kerosene and saffola oil) when compared with mycelium incubated in same way with similar conditions for 2 min incubation. Analyses of the products of cholesterol and camphor using HPLC and GCMS confirm the degradation of these compounds.