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Title: Relationship between lignin degradation and production of reduced oxygen species by Phanerochaete chrysosporium

Journal Article · · Appl. Environ. Microbiol.; (United States)
OSTI ID:6711442

The relationship between the production of reduced oxygen species, hydrogen peroxide (H/sub 2/O/sub 2/), superoxide (O/sub 2//sup -/), and hydroxyl radical (.OH), and the oxidation of synthetic lignin to CO/sub 2/ was studied in whole cultures of the white-rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium Burds. The kinetics of the synthesis of H/sub 2/O/sub 2/ coincided with the appearance of the ligninolytic system; also, H/sub 2/O/sub 2/ production was markedly enhanced by growth under 100% O/sub 2/, mimicing the increase in ligninolytic activity characteristic of cultures grown under elevated oxygen tension. Lignin degradation by whole cultures was inhibited by a specific H/sub 2/O/sub 2/ scavenger, catalase, implying a role for H/sub 2/O/sub 2/ in the degradative process. Superoxide dismutase also inhibited lignin degradation, suggesting that O/sub 2//sup -/ 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% O/sub 2/ correlated with that of the lignin-degrading system. However, lignin degradation was inhibited by compounds which react with .OH. It is concluded that H/sub 2/O/sub 2/, and perhaps O/sub 2//sup -/, 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. (Refs. 28).

Research Organization:
Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison
OSTI ID:
6711442
Journal Information:
Appl. Environ. Microbiol.; (United States), Vol. 46:5
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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