IN-VITRO DEGRADATION OF INSOLUBLE LIGNIN IN AQUEOUS-MEDIA BY LIGNIN PEROXIDASE AND MANGANESE PEROXIDASE

The abilities of lignin peroxidase (LIP) and manganese peroxidase (MNP ) from Phanerochaete chrysosporium to degrade an insoluble hardwood Li gnin in vitro in aqueous media were tested. Neither LIP nor MNP apprec iably changed the mass or lignin content, although both produced small amounts of unique solubilized lignin fragments. Treatment with both L IP and MNP, however, decreased the mass by 11%, decreased the lignin c ontent by 5.1% (4.2% as total weight), and solubilized unique Lignin-d erived molecules. These results suggest that LIP and MNP synergistical ly degrade high molecular weight insoluble lignin, but singly, neither enzyme is sufficient to effect lignin degradation.