BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of a zygomycete isolated from pentachlorophenol (PCP)-contaminated soil to produce peroxidase and phenoloxidase enzymes, and to determine the effect of tyrosine and PCP on the enzyme activities. The ability of the isolate to tolerate and remove PCP was also studied. RESULTS: A zygomycete capable of tolerating and removing PCP was isolated from contaminated soil and identified by molecular techniques as Rhizopus ovyzae strain ENHE. This fungus produced extra- and intracellular tyrosinase and extracellular lignin peroxidase. Tyrosinase activity increased with 0.1 g tyrosine L-1 added to the culture medium. PCP had no effect on tyrosinase activity but increased lignin peroxidase activity. It was shown that R. oryzae ENHE grew until 100 mg PCP L-1 and removed 90% of the initial PCP concentration of 12.5 mg L-1 in 24 h and that the enzymes tyrosinase and lignin peroxidase were probably involved in the PCP removal process. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that R. oryzae ENHE has the potential to be used to produce tyrosinase and lignin peroxidase enzymes. In the few studies that report the production of peroxidase and extracellular tyrosinase by fungi, these enzymes are produced mainly by basidiomycetes. (c) 2008 Society of Chemical Industry.