C. Jolivalt et al., Transformation of N ',N '-dimethyl-N-(hydroxyphenyl)ureas by laccase from the white rot fungus Trametes versicolor, APPL MICR B, 51(5), 1999, pp. 676-681
Transformation of N',N'-dimethyl-N-(hydroxyphenyl)ureas was assayed in the
presence of purified laccase produced by the fungus Trametes versicolor. Th
e para- and ortho-hydroxyphenyl derivatives were enzymatically transformed,
whereas the meta derivative was not. The performance of laccase-mediated t
ransformation depended on the pH, with an optimum for the para-derivative d
egradation rate at pH 5. The pH also influenced the nature of the reaction
products. The chemical was exclusively oxidised into p-benzoquinone at pH 3
and into mainly N',N'-dimethyl-N-[(2,5 -cyclohexadiene-1-one)-4-ylidene]ur
ea at pH 6. The orthoderivative was transformed essentially into insoluble
purple compounds, probably appearing as polymers resulting from coupling of
the parent compound.