Fungi lignin degradation

Multicopper Oxidases (Blue Copper Oxidases) Ascorbate Oxidase, Ceruloplasmin, and Laccase. The multicopper oxidases (MCOs) are important enzymes, which are found in many plants (lignin formation), fungi (lignin degradation and detoxification), bacteria, as well as humans (ferroxidase activity) (13). MCOs catalyze the four-electron reduction of O2 to two waters with the electrons coming firom one-electron oxidation of four substrate molecules. The latter are organic reductants for ascorbate oxidase (AO) (32) and laccase (Lc) (130), and a metal ion (ferrous ion) for ceruloplasmin (Cp) (33) (Scheme 9). 

Fungi. Two forms of fungi commonly encountered are molds (filamentous forms) and yeasts (unicellular forms). Molds can be quite troublesome, causing white rot or brown rot of the cooling tower wood, depending on whether they are cellulolytic (attack cellulose) or lignin degrading. Yeasts are also cellulolytic. They can produce slime in abundant amounts and preferentially colonize wood surfaces. 

Bonnarme P, TW Jeffries (1990) Mn(ll) regulation of lignin peroxidases and manganese-dependent peroxidases from lignin-degrading white-rot fungi. Appl Environ Microbiol 56 210-217. 

Lamar RT, JW Evans, J Glaser (1993) Solid-phase treatment of a pentachlorophenol-contaminated soil using lignin-degrading fungi. Environ Sci Technol 27 2566-2571. 

Hatakka A (1994) Lignin-modifying enzymes from selected white-rot fungi production and role in lignin degradation. FEMS Microbiol Rev 13 125-135... 

Ishikawa, H., W. J. Schubert, and F. F. Nord The Enzymatic Degradation of Softwood Lignin by White Rot Fungi. The Degradation by Polyporus versicolor and Forties fomentarius of Aromatic Compounds Structurally Related to Softwood Lignin. Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 100, 131-149 (1963). 

Correlation between Veratryl Alcohol Synthesis and Lignin Degradation in White-rot Fungi... 

Mechanisms of Lignin Degradation by Lignin Peroxidase and Laccase of White-Rot Fungi... 

Lamar, R.T. Glaser, J.A. (1994). Field evaluations of the remediation of soils contaminated with wood-preserving chemicals using lignin-degrading fungi. In Bioremediation of Chlorinated and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Compounds, ed. R. E. Hinchee, A. Leeson, L. Semprini S. K. Ong, pp. 239-47. Boca Raton, FL Lewis Publishers. 

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