It is generally accepted that dead tree decomposition is performed mainly by delignifying basidiomycetes. While ascomycetes have been reported to inhabit dead tree bark, their contribution to dead tree decomposition is still unclear. Here, we isolated five bark-inhabiting ascomycetes possessing cellulolytic activity from dead beech tree and assessed their polysaccharolytic activities. When cultivated in a medium containing filter paper as a sole carbon source, three strains degraded >40 % of the filter paper in a 4-week cultivation and the others degraded 15-30 % of the paper. The degraders possessed amylolytic, pectinolytic, and mannanolytic activities as well as cellulolytic activity, implying that they play an important role in dead tree decomposition after delignification by basidiomycetes. Phylogenetic analysis based on large subunit ribosomal DNA (lsu-DNA) sequences implied that the isolates belonged to Penicillium or Amorphotheca.

• MeSH
• Amylose metabolism   MeSH
• Ascomycota classification   isolation & purification   metabolism   MeSH
• Fagus microbiology   MeSH
• Cellulose metabolism   MeSH
• DNA, Fungal chemistry   genetics   MeSH
• RNA, Fungal genetics   MeSH
• Genes, rRNA MeSH
• Culture Media chemistry   MeSH
• Mannans metabolism   MeSH
• Environmental Microbiology MeSH
• Paper MeSH
• Pectins metabolism   MeSH
• DNA, Ribosomal chemistry   genetics   MeSH
• RNA, Ribosomal genetics   MeSH
• Sequence Analysis, DNA MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Amylose MeSH
• Cellulose MeSH
• DNA, Fungal MeSH
• RNA, Fungal MeSH
• Culture Media MeSH
• Mannans MeSH
• Pectins MeSH
• DNA, Ribosomal MeSH
• RNA, Ribosomal MeSH
• RNA, ribosomal, 26S MeSH Browser

White-rot fungi that are efficient lignin degraders responsible for its turnover in nature have appeared twice in the center of biotechnological research - first, when the lignin degradation process started being systematically investigated and major enzyme activities and mechanisms involved were described, and second, when the huge remediation potential of these organisms was established. Originally, Phanerochaete chrysosporium became a model organism, characterized by a secondary metabolism regulatory pattern triggered by nutrient (mostly nitrogen) limitation. Last decade brought evidence of more varied regulatory patterns in white-rot fungi when ligninolytic enzymes were also abundantly synthesized under conditions of nitrogen sufficiency. Gradually, research was focused on other species, among them Irpex lacteus showing a remarkable pollutant toxicity resistance and biodegradation efficiency. Systematic research has built up knowledge of biochemistry and biotechnological applicability of this fungus, stressing the need to critically summarize and estimate these scattered data. The review attempts to evaluate the information on I. lacteus focusing on various enzyme activities and bioremediation of organopollutants in water and soil environments, with the aim of mediating this knowledge to a broader microbiological audience.

• MeSH
• Basidiomycota enzymology   genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Biodegradation, Environmental MeSH
• Biotechnology * MeSH
• Fungal Proteins genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Environmental Pollutants metabolism   MeSH
• Lignin metabolism   MeSH
• Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Review MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Fungal Proteins MeSH
• Environmental Pollutants MeSH
• Lignin MeSH

The wood-decomposing fungal species Antrodia macra, A. pulvinascens, Ceriporiopsis aneirina, C. resinascens and Dichomitus albidofuscus were determined for production of laccase (LAC), Mn peroxidase (MnP), lignin peroxidase (LiP), endo-l,4-P-beta-glucanase, endo-l,4-beta-xylanase, cellobiohydrolase, 1,4-beta-glucosidase and 1,4-beta-xylosidase. The results confirmed the brown-rot mode of Antrodia spp. which did not produce the activity of LAC and MnP. The remaining species performed detectable activity of both enzymes while no strain produced LiP. Significant inhibition of LAC production by high nitrogen was found in all white-rot species while only MnP of D. albidofuscus was regulated in the same way. The endoglucanase and endoxylanase activities of white-rotting species were inhibited by glucose in the medium while those of Antrodia spp. were not influenced by glucose concentration. The regulation of enzyme activity and bio-mass production can vary even within a single fungal genus.

• MeSH
• Basidiomycota enzymology   isolation & purification   metabolism   MeSH
• Wood microbiology   MeSH
• Nitrogen metabolism   MeSH
• Fungal Proteins metabolism   MeSH
• Laccase genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Lignin metabolism   MeSH
• Peroxidases metabolism   MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Nitrogen MeSH
• Fungal Proteins MeSH
• Laccase MeSH
• Lignin MeSH
• lignocellulose MeSH Browser
• manganese peroxidase MeSH Browser
• Peroxidases MeSH

Thirty wood-rotting basidiomycetes, most of them causing white rot in wood, were isolated from fruiting bodies growing on decaying wood from the Sierra de Ayllón (Spain). The fungi were identified on the basis of their morphological characteristics and compared for their ability to decolorize Reactive Black 5 and Reactive Blue 38 (as model of azo and phthalocyanine type dyes, respectively) at 75 and 150 mg/L. Only eighteen fungal strains were able to grow on agar plates in the presence of the dyes and only three species (Calocera cornea, Lopharia spadicea, Polyporus alveolaris) decolorized efficiently both dyes at both concentrations. The ligninolytic activities, involved in decolorization dyes (laccases, lignin peroxidases, Mn-oxidizing peroxidases), were followed in glucose basal medium in the presence of enzyme inducers. The results indicate a high variability of the ligninolytic system within white-rot basidiomycetes. These fungal species and their enzymes can represent new alternatives for the study of new biological systems to degrade aromatic compounds causing environmental problems.

• MeSH
• Coloring Agents metabolism   MeSH
• Basidiomycota classification   enzymology   isolation & purification   metabolism   MeSH
• Biodegradation, Environmental MeSH
• Wood microbiology   MeSH
• Fungal Proteins metabolism   MeSH
• Phylogeny MeSH
• Laccase metabolism   MeSH
• Peroxidases metabolism   MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Coloring Agents MeSH
• Fungal Proteins MeSH
• Laccase MeSH
• lignin peroxidase MeSH Browser
• Peroxidases MeSH

The ligninolytic fungus Irpex lacteus was shown as an efficient degrader of oligocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs; 'polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons') possessing 3-6 aromatic rings in complex liquid media. The strain produced mainly Mn-dependent peroxidase in media without pollutants. Activity of ligninolytic enzymes was higher in a N-limited medium. However, after contamination with PAHs (especially pyrene) the values increased and significant activity of Mn-independent peroxidase appeared in the complex medium. Other factors (such as the increase in nitrogen concentration or the presence of solvent(s) for dissolution of PAHs) had no effect. Cytochrome P-450 was detected in the microsomal fraction of biomass grown in the complex medium. The rate of PAH degradation was also affected by the presence of various combinations of PAHs. However, independently of the enzyme activities, anthracene was shown to have a positive influence on degradation of pyrene and fluoranthene.

• MeSH
• Basidiomycota enzymology   genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Biodegradation, Environmental MeSH
• Fungal Proteins genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Lignin metabolism   MeSH
• Peroxidases genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons chemistry   metabolism   MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Fungal Proteins MeSH
• Lignin MeSH
• Peroxidases MeSH
• Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons MeSH

Trametes pubescens and Pleurotus ostreatus, immobilized on polyurethane foam cubes in bioreactors, were used to decolorize three industrial and model dyes at concentrations of 200, 1000 and 2000 ppm. Five sequential cycles were run for each dye and fungus. The activity of laccase, Mn-dependent and independent peroxidases, lignin peroxidase, and aryl-alcohol oxidase were daily monitored during the cycles and the toxicity of media containing 1000 and 2000 ppm of each dye was assessed by the Lemna minor (duckweed) ecotoxicity test. Both fungi were able to efficiently decolorize all dyes even at the highest concentration, and the duckweed test showed a significant reduction (p < or = 0.05) of the toxicity after the decolorization treatment. T. pubescens enzyme activities varied greatly and no clear correlation between decolorization and enzyme activity was observed, while P. ostreatus showed constantly a high laccase activity during decolorization cycles. T. pubescens showed better decolorization and detoxication capability (compared to the better known P. ostreatus). As wide differences in enzyme activity of the individual strains were observed, the strong decolorization obtained with the two fungi suggested that different dye decolorization mechanisms might be involved.

• MeSH
• Coloring Agents metabolism   MeSH
• Biodegradation, Environmental MeSH
• Bioreactors microbiology   MeSH
• Fermentation MeSH
• Cells, Immobilized metabolism   MeSH
• Pleurotus enzymology   metabolism   MeSH
• Polyporales enzymology   metabolism   MeSH
• Industrial Microbiology * MeSH
• Industrial Waste * MeSH
• Textile Industry * MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Comparative Study MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Coloring Agents MeSH
• Industrial Waste * MeSH