A fungal metabolite mediates degradation of non-phenolic lignin structures and synthetic lignin by laccase.
Lignin peroxidase is generally considered to be a primary catalyst for oxidative depolymerization of lignin by white-rot fungi. However, some white-rot fungi lack lignin peroxidase. Instead, many produce laccase, even though the redox potentials of known laccases are too low to directly oxidize the non-phenolic components of lignin. Pycnoporus cinnabarinus is one example of a laccase-producing fungus that degrades lignin very efficiently. To overcome the redox potential barrier, P. cinnabarinus produces a metabolite, 3-hydroxyanthranilate that can mediate the oxidation of how non-phenolic substrates by laccase. This is the first description of how laccase might function in a biological system for the complete depolymerization of lignin.
Eggert
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Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens 30602-7229, USA.
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Eriksson
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D001592:Benzyl Alcohols / Q000378:metabolism; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D007700:Kinetics; D042845:Laccase; D008031:Lignin / Q000378:metabolism*; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism*; D010636:Phenols; D011124:Polyporaceae / Q000378:metabolism*
D001592:Benzyl Alcohols; D010636:Phenols; D008031:Lignin; D010088:Oxidoreductases; D042845:Laccase; C042197:veratryl alcohol