Manganese-mediated lignin degradation by Pleurotus pulmonarius

Abstract

Pleurotus pulmonarius produced the strongest degradation of lignin during solid-state fermentation of [14C]lignin wheat straw with different fungi. A manganese-oxidizing peroxidase seemed to be involved in lignin attack, since the addition of Mn2+ to the culture increased lignin mineralization by ca. 125%. This enzyme was purified and characterized from both solid-state fermentation and liquid cultures.