Fungal biodegradation and biotransformation of soluble lignocarbohydrate complexes from straw. [Aspergillus japonicus, Polyporus versicolor]

Journal Article · Mon Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1983 · Appl. Environ. Microbiol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5162605

Milstein, O A; Vared, Y; Sharma, A; Gressel, J; Flowers, H M

Aspergillus japonicus is an efficient degrader of phenolics and carbohydrates present in a mixture of soluble lignocarbohydrate complexes extracted from wheat straw. Trichoderma species attacked part of the carbohydrate but hardly affected the aromatic portion of this solution. Polyporus versicolor had a complex effect; polymerization of low-molecular-size phenolics accompanied the degradation of aromatic and carbohydrate polymers. The addition of xylose to the medium facilitated depolymerization of lignin by the fungi tested and prevented the polymerization of low-molecular-size fractions of lignocarbohydrate complexes by P. versicolor. P. versicolor, in contrast to A. japonicus and Trichoderma species, also excreted into the medium considerable amounts of laccase, but only in the absence of endogenous or exogenous carbohydrates. Apparently, laccase is involved in polymerization rather than degradation of lignin in this organism. A number of extracellular glycanases were also secreted by these fungi. 19 references

• Research Organization: Dept. of Plant Genetics and Biophysics, Weizmann Inst. of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
• OSTI ID: 5162605
• Journal Information: Appl. Environ. Microbiol.; (United States), Vol. 46:2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ASPERGILLUS
ENZYME ACTIVITY
CARBOHYDRATES
BIODEGRADATION
FUNGI
LIGNIN
PHENOLS
TRICHODERMA
POLYMERIZATION
STRAW
WHEAT
AROMATICS
CEREALS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
GRAMINEAE
GRASS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PLANTS
POLYSACCHARIDES
SACCHARIDES
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550700 - Microbiology