Molecular genetics of lignin-degrading fungi and their applications in organopollutant degradation

Abstract

This chapter provides an overview of the physiology and associated molecular genetics of wood- decaying fungi as they relate to organopollutant degradation. White-rot fungi are characterized by an ability to fragment all major structural polymers of wood including lignin. More poorly understood are the brown-rot fungi, which rapidly depolymerize cellulosic materials while only modifying lignin. Collectively, these wood- and litter-degrading fungi play a pivotal role in the carbon cycle. In fact, white-rot fungi are the only microbes known to efficiently mineralize fully lignified tissue. The wood-rotting fungi are obligate aerobes, deriving their nourishment from the biological combustion of wood and associated materials, using molecular oxygen as a terminal electron acceptor. The focus here is on the non-specific extracellular enzyme systems of white-rot fungi. These oxidative enzymes have been shown to transform and degrade an array of organopollutants in addition to depolymerizing lignin. Intra-cellular metabolism of small molecular weight products is also covered, although relatively little is known of these processes. This chapter does not comprehensively review the voluminous literature on fungal degradation of lignin and related organopollutants.

Citation

Cullen, Daniel. 2002. Molecular genetics of lignin-degrading fungi and their applications in organopollutant degradation. The mycota : a comprehensive treatise on fungi as experimental systems for basic and applied research 11, Agricultural applications. Berlin ; London : Springer, c2002: pages [71]-90.