Identification of terminal structures in cellulose degraded by the brown-rot fungus Postia placenta

Abstract

To gain insight into the biochemical mechanism employed by brown-rot fungi to depolymerize cellulose, we identified the end-groups of chemically pure cellulose that had been depolymerized by the brown-rot fungus, Postia placenta. The acids identified include glyceric and erythronic, indicating oxidative cleavage of the vicinal dial carbon-carbon bonds within glucosyl residues in the cellulose polymer. Gluconic and arabonic acids were also identified as major products. No uronic acids were produced in either systems.

Citation

Kirk, T.K.; Highley, T.L.; Ibach, R.; Mozuch, M.D. 1989. Identification of terminal structures in cellulose degraded by the brown-rot fungus Postia placenta. Document No. IRG/WP/1389. International Research Group on Wood Preservation Twentieth Annual Meeting, Lappeenranta, Finland, May 21-26, 1989. 5 p.