Laccase activity in lignin degradation byCoriolus versicolorin vivo and in vitro studies

Laccase activity in ligninolytic cultures of Coriolus versicolor was inhibited by the addition of antibodies. The degree and rate of lignin degradation was unaffected by this inhibition in comparison with cultures which had normal laccase activity. Although experiments in vitro showed that milled wood lignin was depolymerised by laccase in the presence of hydrogen peroxide, and that this reaction was inhibited by antibody, it is concluded that this degradative reaction was not the function of laccase in vivo.