Catabolic pathway of lignin derived-aromatic compounds by whole cell of Phanerochaete chrysosporium (ATCC 20696) with reducing agent

Abstract

Whole cell of Phanerochaete chrysosporium with reducing agent was applied to verify the degradation mechanism of aromatic compounds derived from lignin precisely. Unlike the free-reducing agent experiment, various degraded products of aromatic compounds were detected under the fungal treatment. Our results suggested that demethoxylation, Cα oxidation and ring cleavage of aromatic compounds occurred under the catabolic system of P. chrysosporium. After that, degraded products stimulated the primary metabolism of fungus, so succinic acid was ultimately main degradation product of lignin derived-aromatic compounds. Especially, hydroquinone was detected as final intermediate in the degradation of aromatics and production of succinic acid. In conclusions, P. chrysosporium has an unique catabolic metabolism related to the production of succinic acid from lignin derived- aromatic compounds, which was meaningful in terms of lignin valorization.