LIGNINASE PRODUCTION BY IMMOBILIZED CULTURES OF PHANEROCHAETE-CHRYSOSPORIUM GROWN UNDER NITROGEN-SUFFICIENT CONDITIONS

The production of lignin peroxidase (ligninase) by free and immobilized cultures of P. chrysosporium was studied in the range of N-concentration from 2.2 to 22 mM. As expected, free fungal pellets produced significant levels of ligninase activity (200 U l-1) only under N-limitation (2.2 mM). In contrast, in cultures of P. chrysosporium immobilized on pieces of polyurethane sponge or foam, the level of lignin peroxidase increases with the N-concentration and up to 190 and 340 U l-1 of ligninase activity were found under conditions of N-sufficiency (22 mM), respectively.