Stimulation of ligninolytic enzyme production in Phanerochaete chrysosporium by polyoxyalkanes.
OBJECTIVE
Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and some substances similar to PEG in chemical structure were tested as stimulators of ligninolytic enzyme production in shaken culture of Phanerochaete chrysosporium.


RESULTS
The substances that caused high enzymatic activity were linear polymers [poly(ethylene glycol), poly(propylene glycol), poly(butylene glycol) and poly(vinyl alcohol)] and cyclic polymers (crown ether). They can have terminal groups other than -OH [PEG (di)methyl ether, PEG sulphate, PEG derivative with the amino group and xanthate]. The maximum lignin peroxidase activities were compared with the surface pressure caused by the stimulator. Addition of polymers composed of charged monomer units did not increase the enzymatic activity and the fungi did not grow at all on addition of polymers having a fixed positive charge.


CONCLUSIONS
Lignin peroxidase activity was increased after the addition of polymers with uncharged monomer units. It was higher and its maximum was reached in a shorter time on addition of polymers with higher molecular weights.


CONCLUSIONS
Beside Tweens there are several polymers that stimulate ligninolytic enzyme production in shaken culture of P. chrysosporium. Their characteristics are: similarity to PEG in chemical structure, having uncharged monomer units and high molecular weight.
Grgic
I
I
Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Perdih
A
A
D000588:Amines / Q000494:pharmacology; D003470:Culture Media; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010544:Peroxidases / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D020075:Phanerochaete / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011108:Polymers / Q000494:pharmacology; D013500:Surface Tension
D000588:Amines; D003470:Culture Media; D011108:Polymers; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D010544:Peroxidases; C042858:lignin peroxidase; C051129:manganese peroxidase