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. 1983 Nov;46(5):1140–1145. doi: 10.1128/aem.46.5.1140-1145.1983

Relationship Between Lignin Degradation and Production of Reduced Oxygen Species by Phanerochaete chrysosporium

Brendlyn D Faison 1, T Kent Kirk 1
PMCID: PMC239531  PMID: 16346420

Abstract

The relationship between the production of reduced oxygen species, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), superoxide (O2∙̅), and hydroxyl radical (·OH), and the oxidation of synthetic lignin to CO2 was studied in whole cultures of the white-rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium Burds. The kinetics of the synthesis of H2O2 coincided with the appearance of the ligninolytic system; also, H2O2 production was markedly enhanced by growth under 100% O2, mimicking the increase in ligninolytic activity characteristic of cultures grown under elevated oxygen tension. Lignin degradation by whole cultures was inhibited by a specific H2O2 scavenger, catalase, implying a role for H2O2 in the degradative process. Superoxide dismutase also inhibited lignin degradation, suggesting that O2∙̅ is also involved in the breakdown of lignin. The production of ·OH was assayed in whole cultures by a benzoate decarboxylation assay. Neither the kinetics of ·OH synthesis nor the final activity of its producing system obtained under 100% O2 correlated with that of the lignin-degrading system. However, lignin degradation was inhibited by compounds which react with ·OH. It is concluded that H2O2, and perhaps O2∙̅, are involved in lignin degradation; because these species are relatively unreactive per se, their role must be indirect. Conclusions about a role for ·OH in ligninolysis could not be reached.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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