Phanerochaete is a genus of fungi. Several of the species in this genus are plant pathogens.

This genus includes "white-rot" fungi that are able to degrade lignin

Lignin

Lignin or lignen is a complex chemical compound most commonly derived from wood, and an integral part of the secondary cell walls of plants and some algae. The term was introduced in 1819 by de Candolle and is derived from the Latin word lignum, meaning wood...

 to carbon dioxide

Carbon dioxide

Carbon dioxide is a naturally occurring chemical compound composed of two oxygen atoms covalently bonded to a single carbon atom...

. This is achieved, in part, by lignin peroxidase

Lignin peroxidase

Lignin is highly resistant to biodegradation and only higher fungi are capable of degrading the polymer via an oxidative process. This process has been studied extensively in the past twenty years, but the actual mechanism has not yet been fully elucidated...

s and manganese peroxidase

Manganese peroxidase

In enzymology, a manganese peroxidase is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reactionThe 3 substrates of this enzyme are Mn, H+, and H2O2, whereas its two products are Mn and H2O....

s.These peroxidases are also able to mediate oxidation of a wide variety of organic pollutants. Recently, the genome of Phanerochaete chrysosporium has been sequenced and shows the genetic potential to be able to make over 100 cytochrome P450 monooxygenases. White rot fungi have been used in bioremediation efforts to break down potentially harmful chemicals in soil and in water.