Biodegradation of Lignin by White Rot Fungi

Wood production, wood technology, and biotechnological impacts

“…for production of hydrogen peroxide while oxidising glucose from hydrolytic degradation of cellulose or for reduction of quinones and radicals. According to the models proposed by Ander & Marzullo (1997) and Leonowicz et al (1999a), they play a key role in combining the different chains of metabolic reactions occurring during lignocellulose transformation.…”

“…aromatic compounds, organic acids, or peptides (de Jong et al 1994, Leonowicz et al 1999a. Physiological conditions for lignin degradation and patterns of involved enzymes may vary substantially among different species (compare e.g.…”

“…1). These enzymes were found in almost all wood-rotting fungi analysed so far (Heinzkill & Messner 1997, Table 1 Enzymes involved in the degradation of wood (adopted and modified from Leonowicz et al 1999a)…”

“…With the number of identified and sequenced genes of enzymes involved in the degradation of lignocellulose growing steadily, recombinant approaches for the production of biotechnologically interesting enzymes become practice. The progress achieved in gene identification is exemplified by the number of fungal multi-copper oxidase genes known a few years ago (about 15; Leonowicz et al 1999a) and now (258 genes for multi-copper oxidases including 165 genes for laccases sensu stricto; .…”

“…The conversion of the isolated polysaccharide compounds cellulose and hemicellulose by various hydrolases is considered a rather simple process. However, when these polysaccharides occur in complexes with lignin in a way typical for woody plants, they are resistant against simple hydrolytic breakdown ( Leonowicz et al 1999a. Compared to the polysaccharides, lignin is structurally much more complex and made up primarily of phenyl propane units (see Fig.…”