TEMPORAL EXPRESSION OF THE MAJOR LIGNIN PEROXIDASE GENES OF PHANEROCHAETE-CHRYSOSPORIUM

DNA probes specific for the genes encoding major lignin peroxidase (LIP) isozymes H2, H8, and H10 of Phanerochaete chrysosporium were constructed. These probes were used to study the temporal expression of the three lip genes in defined low-nitrogen medium. H2 gene transcripts were produced at high levels on days 4, 5, and 7 and at low levels on day 6, while the H8 gene transcripts peaked on day 4 and were produced in substantially lower amounts thereafter. H10 transcripts, on the other hand, peaked on day 4, dropped precipitously on day 5, and were barely detectable on days 6 and 7. There was no precise correlation between lip transcript and isozyme levels.