Intermediates and products of synthetic lignin (dehydrogenative polymerizate) degradation by Phlebia tremellosa

Agitated, nitrogen-limited cultures of Phlebia tremellosa caused substantial changes in the distribution of 14C-labelled synthetic lignin (dehydrogenative polymerizate [DHP]) between water-soluble, dioxane-soluble, alkali-soluble, and insoluble fractions before much lignin carbon was metabolized to CO2. First, the insoluble form increased at the expense of the dioxane-soluble form. Later, the amounts of alkali-soluble and water-soluble 14C increased, and release of 14CO2 began. The molecular weight distribution of the dioxane-soluble lignin remained constant during degradation, but that of the water-soluble fraction changed to higher molecular weights. Culture agitation accelerated the attachment of suspended DHP to the mycelia and stimulated production of water-soluble 14C and 14CO2. The nonionic detergent Tween 80 also hastened release of 14CO2 and increased the early conversion of dioxane-soluble DHP to the alkali-soluble and insoluble forms. Oxidative polymerization is suggested as the first step in degradation of DHP by P. tremellosa.