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The importance of phenol oxidase activity in lignin degradation by the white-rot fungus Sporotrichum pulverulentum

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Abstract

The lignin degradation abilities of wildtype, a phenol oxidase-less mutant and a phenol oxidase-positive revertant of Sporotrichum pulverulentum were compared to determine if phenol oxidase activity is necessary for lignin degradation by white-rot fungi. The phenol oxidase-less mutant was unable to degrade kraft lignin or wood. The phenol oxidase-positive revertant, however, regained the ability of the wildtype to degrade kraft lignin and all of the major components of wood. It was found that kraft lignin and lignin-related phenols decreased cellulase and xylanase production by the phenol oxidase-less mutant. Addition of highly purified laccase increased the production of endo-1,4-β-glucanase in the phenol oxidase-less mutant in the presence of vanillic acid and kraft lignin. After addition of laccase to kraft lignin agar plates, the phenol oxidase-less mutant could degrade kraft lignin.

It is proposed that phenol oxidase function in regulating the production of both lignin-and polysaccharide-degrading enzymes by oxidation of lignin and lignin-related phenols when S. pulverulentum is growing on wood.

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Abbreviations

WT:

wildtype Sporotrichum pulverulentum

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  1. Chemistry Department, Swedish Forest Products Research Laboratory, Box 5604, S-114 86, Stockholm, Sweden

    Paul Ander & Karl-Erik Eriksson

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  1. Paul Ander
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  2. Karl-Erik Eriksson
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Research supported by a grant from Stiftelsen Nils and Dorthi Troëdssons forskningsfond

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Ander, P., Eriksson, KE. The importance of phenol oxidase activity in lignin degradation by the white-rot fungus Sporotrichum pulverulentum . Arch. Microbiol. 109, 1–8 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00425105

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00425105

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