DEGRADATION OF LIGNIN-CARBOHYDRATE COMPLEX (LCC) BY WOOD-ROTTING FUNGI .4. ENZYMATIC SPLITTING OF BONDINGS BETWEEN HEMICELLULOSE AND LIGNINVIA QUINONE METHIDE BY CORIOLUS-VERSICOLOR

Crude enzyme from liquid media of Coriolus versicolor (L.; Fr.) Quel. released methyl beta-D-glucopyranoside from a LCC model compound, meth yl 6-O-vanillyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside, but not from a compound methyl 6-O-veratryl-beta-D-glucopyranoside. Methyl beta-D-glucopyranoside wa s released from the compound having a free phenolic hydroxyl group, es timating that phenoloxidase secreted by C. versicolor might participat e this reaction. Phenoloxidase (laccase from C. versicolor and horsera dish peroxidase) treatments to cellulase-treated LCC were compared to an alkaline treatment, resulting in that the similar amounts and compo sition of monosaccharides were released. These results suggest that en zymic cleavage of benzyl ether bonding between sugars and lignin by C. versicolor occurred via quinone methide by phenoloxidases; laccase an d horseradish peroxidase.