Biodegradation of Lignin by White Rot Fungi

A review is presented related to the biochemistry of lignocellulose transformation. The biodegradation of wood constituents is currently understood as a multienzymatic process with the mediation of small molecules; therefore, this review will focus on the roles of these small molecular compounds and...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Fungal Genetics and Biology 1999-07, Vol.27 (2-3), p.175-185
Main Authors: Leonowicz, Andrzej, Matuszewska, Anna, Luterek, Jolanta, Ziegenhagen, Dirk, Wojtaś-Wasilewska, Maria, Cho, Nam-Seok, Hofrichter, Martin, Rogalski, Jerzy
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Basidiomycota
Basidiomycota - enzymology
Basidiomycota - metabolism
biodegradation
Biodegradation, Environmental
Carbohydrate Sequence
enzyme activity
enzymes
lignin
Lignin - chemistry
Lignin - metabolism
ligninolytic microorganisms
lignocellulose
literature reviews
Molecular Sequence Data
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Summary:A review is presented related to the biochemistry of lignocellulose transformation. The biodegradation of wood constituents is currently understood as a multienzymatic process with the mediation of small molecules; therefore, this review will focus on the roles of these small molecular compounds and radicals working in concerto with enzymes. Wood rotting basidiomycetous fungi penetrate wood and lead to more easily metabolized, carbohydrate constitutents of the complex. Having a versatile machinery of enzymes, the white rot fungi are able to attack directly the “lignin barrier.” They also use a multienzyme system including so-called “feed back” type enzymes, allowing for simultaneous transformation of both lignin and cellulose. These enzymes may function separately or cooperatively.
ISSN:1087-1845
1096-0937
DOI:10.1006/fgbi.1999.1150