Peroxidases depolymerize lignin in organic media but not in water.
Horseradish peroxidase and milk lactoperoxidase, while unable to degrade either synthetic or natural lignins in aqueous solutions, vigorously depolymerize polyconiferyl alcohol, milled wood lignin, and kraft pine lignin in dioxane, dimethylformamide, or methyl formate containing 5% aqueous buffer (10 mM acetate, pH 5). Horseradish peroxidase, solubilized in organic media by chemical modification, can also degrade lignin in native lignocellulose (wheat straw).
Department of Applied Biological Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139.
J S
JS
Dordick
M A
MA
Marletta
A M
AM
Klibanov