Metabolism of non-phenolic diarylpropane lignin substructure model compound by Coriolus versicolor

A lignin substructure model, 1-(4-ethoxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-ethoxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-propane-1,3-diol(I), was actively metabolized by a white-rot fungus Coriolus versicolor in low nitrogen stationary cultures favouring the ligninolytic activity in the fungus. Cleavage of the dimer I between Cα and Cβ of the propanoid side chain was the major degradative reaction by the fungus.