Open AccessRegulation of ligninolytic activity by nutrient nitrogen in white‐rot basidiomycetes
Author(s) -
Leatham Gary F.,
Kent Kirk T.
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1983.tb00260.x
Subject(s) - phanerochaete , chrysosporium , lignin , nutrient , trametes versicolor , nitrogen , biology , food science , fungus , botany , chemistry , biochemistry , laccase , enzyme , ecology , organic chemistry
Lignin-degrading basidiomycetes are of prime importance in the decay of wood and other lignocellulosic materials. The ligninolytic system of Phanerochaete chrysosporiurn Burds. is induced in the absence of exogenous lignin and is dependent on the cessation of vegetative growth and the onset of secondary metabolism [1,2]. Depletion of nutrients [2], including a utilizable nitrogen source [1], triggers development of the ligninolytic system. When added to nitrogen-starved cultures, many amino acids including L-glutamic acid stimulate vegetative growth while suppressing ligninolytic activity [3,4]. Preliminary experiments with Coriolus versicolor (L. ex Fr.) Qu61. indicated that its ligninolytic system was also stimulated by a decreased concentration of nutrient nitrogen [5]. However, little is known about the regulation of ligninolytic activity in other fungi. The purpose of this study was to determine whether nutrient nitrogen limitation stimulates the ligninolytic .activity of other commonly studied white-rot basidiomycetes. P. chrysosporium and C. versicolor were included for comparison.