LIGNINOLYTIC ENZYMES OF THE FUNGUS PANUS-TIGRINUS 8/18 - BIOSYNTHESIS, PURIFICATION AND PROPERTIES

Extracellular Mn-dependent peroxidase and oxidase have been purified from the culture of white rot fungus P. tigrinus 8/18 grown on wheat straw. Some physico-chemical and ligninolytic properties of these enzymes have been investigated. Both enzymes have been shown to decompose a dimeric model compound of beta-beta' type (and oxidase, also to demethoxylate substrate); to cleave C(alpha)-C(beta) in a nonphenolic model compound of beta-1 type (Mn-peroxidase, also to split the C(beta)-C4 bond); to be involved in lignin polymerization-depolymerization reactions. Based on the data presented and considering the absence of lignin peroxidase in the extracellular ligninolytic enzyme complex of P. tigrinus, Mn-peroxidase is suggested to be the key enzyme of the complex.