Relationships between the abilities of streptomycetes to decolorize three anthron-type dyes and to degrade lignocellulose

Abstract

Fourteen Streptomyces strains known to degrade lignocellulose were screened for their ability to decolorize three anthron-type dyes: Remazol Brilliant Blue R (RBBR), blue poly(vinylamine) sulfonate – anthraquinone dye (Poly B-411), and red poly(vinylamine) sulfonate – anthrapyridone dye (Poly R-478). The relationships between efficiency of dye decolorization and capacity to attack lignocellulose were examined. Good correlation was found between lignocellulose weight losses observed during previous solid-state fermentation assays and the ability to decolorize RBBR and Poly B-411. A poor correlation was observed between Poly R-478 decolorizing activity and lignocellulose-degrading ability. The presence of corn stover lignocellulose in the culture broth enhanced decolorization of the dye by all but one of the strains. The enhancement was thought to involve the increased production of extracellular peroxidases by cultures growing on lignocellulose. The results on oxidation of the three dyes by a commercial horseradish peroxidase indicate that RBBR and Poly B-411 are suitable substrates for analyzing production of peroxidases by Streptomyces spp., while no decolorization of Poly R-478 was observed under the conditions used. However, Poly R-478 decolorizing activity of the Streptomyces may reflect the activity of other enzymes involved in the complex process of lignocellulose degradation. Key words: Streptomyces, lignocellulose, degradation, dye, decolorization.

The Use of Cellulose Azure Agar as a Crude Assay of Both Cellulolytic and Ligninolytic Abilities of Wood-inhabiting Fungi.

“…As noted by Freitag and Morrell (1992), cultures that have lost vigour through prolonged culture ("attenuated strains") are no longer capable of degrading Poly R-478 or RBBR. This supports the findings of Pasti and Crawford (1991) that clearing of RBBR is a good indicator of ligninolytic ability. As such, it is certainly more convenient to use the cellulose azure test for both cellulase and ligninolytic capabilities, than to use a separate Poly R-478 test for the latter, and the results are more definite than those of the Poly R-478 test.…”

“…The dyes most widely used for this purpose have been Poly B-411 (Glenn and Gold 1983, Platt et al 1985, Gold et al 1988 and Poly R-478 (Ball et al 1989, Pasti andCrawford 1991, Freit~g andMorre111992). Poly B-411 is no longer available from the original supplier (Sigma) and decolourization of its replacement, Poly R-478, shows less direct correlation to ligninolytic ability (Pasti andCrawford 1991, Freitag andMorrell 1992). Smith (1977) proposed a simple test for detecting cellulolytic ability in fungal cultures based on the release of the dye Remazol Brilliant blue R (RBBR) from dyed cellulose (modified from Rinderknecht 1967).…”

“…Highley (1983) and Hegarty et al (1987) noted that a number of white-rot species caused clearing of the blue dye released from cellulose azure. Ulmer et al (1984) and Waldner et al (1988) have used the decolourization of RBBR as a test for ligninolytic ability in fungi, and Pasti and Crawford (1991) have recently correlated its decolourization by Streptomycetes with the ability to degrade lignocellulose. Here I suggest that the cellulose azure test provides a simple and effective assay for both cellulolytic and ligninolytic capabilities of fungal cultures.…”

“…1.4). Decolourization of the RBBR, whether or not it has been released from the cellulose azure, was taken as an indicator of ligninolytic ability (Pasti and Crawford 1991). An alternate test of ligninolytic ability used the clearing of Poly R-478, a polymeric dye with a poly (vinylamine) sulfonate backbone and an anthrapyridone chromophore that has replaced the dyes Poly B-411 and Poly R-481 used for the same purpose by Glenn and Gold (1983).…”

Rapid Dye Decolorization Method for Screening Potential Wood Preservatives

“…Extracellular oxidative agents produced by wood decay fungi are hypothesized to play an important role in wood biodegradation (5,6). Several investigators reported correlations between the decolorization of dyes and the ligninolytic ability of the microorganisms (7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12). Therefore, model synthetic dyes such as Remazol Brilliant Blue R could be used to detect lignocellulolytic activity of fungi (7)(8)(9)(10)12).…”