Activated oxygen species and two extracellular enzymes: laccase and aryl-alcohol oxidase, novel for the lignin-degrading fungus Fusarium proliferatum

Laccase, aryl-alcohol oxidase and superoxide radicals were detected in lign inolytic cultures of Fusarium proliferatum. Enzyme activities were present during the secondary metabolism and seen as Single protein bands after non- denaturing electrophoresis. In contrast, superoxide radicals were detected during primary growth, correlating with maximal lignin mineralization, More over, ligninolysis decreased when scavengers of both superoxide and hydroxy l radicals were added to cultures, indicating that activated oxygen species are involved in lignin degradation.