Production of hydroxyl radical by lignin peroxidase from Phanerochaete chrysosporium.

The mechanism for the production of hydroxyl radical by lignin peroxidase from the white rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium was investigated. Ferric iron reduction was demonstrated in reaction mixtures containing lignin peroxidase isozyme H2 (LiPH2), H2O2, veratryl alcohol, oxalate, ferric chloride, and 1,10-phenanthroline. The rate of iron reduction was dependent on the concentration of oxalate and was inhibited by the addition of superoxide dismutase. The addition of ferric iron inhibited oxygen consumption in reaction mixtures containing LiPH2, H2O2, veratryl alcohol, and oxalate. Thus, the reduction of ferric iron was thought to be dependent on the LiPH2-catalyzed production of superoxide in which veratryl alcohol and oxalate serve as electron mediators. Oxalate production and degradation in nutrient nitrogen-limited cultures of P. chrysosporium was also studied. The concentration of oxalate in these cultures decreased during the period in which maximum lignin peroxidase activity (veratryl alcohol oxidation) was detected. Electron spin resonance studies using the spin trap 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide were used to obtain evidence for the production of the hydroxyl radical in reaction mixtures containing LiPH2, H2O2, veratryl alcohol, EDTA, and ferric chloride. It was concluded that the white rot fungus might produce hydroxyl radical via a mechanism that includes the secondary metabolites veratryl alcohol and oxalate. Such a mechanism may contribute to the ability of this fungus to degrade environmental pollutants.     

Biochemistry of the oxidation of lignin by Phanerochaete chrysosporium

The objective of this research was to identify the biochemical agents responsible for the oxidative degradation of lignin by the white-rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium. We examined the hypothesis that activated oxygen species are involved, and we also sought the agent in ligninolytic cultures responsible for a specific oxidative degradative reaction in substructure model compounds. Results of studies of the production of activated oxygen species by cultures, of the effect of their removal on ligninolytic activity, and of their action on substructure model compounds support a role for hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) and possibly superoxide (O(2)(*)(-)) in lignin degradation. Involvement of hydroxyl radical (*OH) or singlet oxygen (1O(2)) is not supported by our data. The actual biochemical agent responsible for one important oxidative C-C bond cleavage reaction in non-phenolic lignin substructure model compounds, and in lignin itself, was found to be an enzyme. The enzyme is extracellular, has a molecular weight of 42,000 daltons, is azide-sensitive, and requires H(2)O(2) for activity.     

Ethylene production from alpha-oxo-gamma-methylthiobutyric acid is a sensitive measure of ligninolytic activity by Phanerochaete chrysosporium.

Production of hydroxyl radical in ligninolytic cultures was determined by measuring the alpha-oxo-gamma-methylthiobutyric acid-dependent production of ethylene gas. The results showed that the pattern of ethylene production was very similar to that of ligninolytic activity [[14C]lignin leads to 14CO2). Furthermore, nutritional parameters, which are known to affect ligninolytic activity, affected OH.-radical-dependent ethylene production in a similar fashion. The results indicate that assay for ethylene production from alpha-oxo-gamma-methylthiobutyric acid is a simple and sensitive measure of ligninolytic activity by Phanerochaete chrysosporium.     

Lignin peroxidase-negative mutant of the white-rot basidiomycete Phanerochaete chrysosporium

Phanerochaete chrysosporium produces two classes of extracellular heme proteins, designated lignin peroxidases and manganese peroxidases, that play a key role in lignin degradation. In this study we isolated and characterized a lignin peroxidase-negative mutant (lip mutant) that showed 16% of the ligninolytic activity (14C-labeled synthetic lignin----14CO2) exhibited by the wild type. The lip mutant did not produce detectable levels of lignin peroxidase, whereas the wild type, under identical conditions, produced 96 U of lignin peroxidase per liter. Both the wild type and the mutant produced comparable levels of manganese peroxidase and glucose oxidase, a key H2O2-generating secondary metabolic enzyme in P. chrysosporium. Fast protein liquid chromatographic analysis of the concentrated extracellular fluid of the lip mutant confirmed that it produced only heme proteins with manganese peroxidase activity but no detectable lignin peroxidase activity, whereas both lignin peroxidase and manganese peroxidase activities were produced by the wild type. The lip mutant appears to be a regulatory mutant that is defective in the production of all the lignin peroxidases.     

Mechanism of oxidative C alpha-C beta cleavage of a lignin model dimer by Phanerochaete chrysosporium ligninase. Stoichiometry and involvement of free radicals

The hemoprotein ligninase of Phanerochaete chrysosporium Burds. catalyzes the oxidative cleavage of lignin model dimers between C alpha and C beta of their propyl side chains. The model dimers hitherto used give multiple products and complex stoichiometries upon enzymatic oxidation. Here we present experiments with a new model dimer, 1-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-phenylethanediol (dimethoxyhydrobenzoin, DMHB) which is quantitatively cleaved by ligninase in air to give benzaldehyde and veratraldehyde according to the stoichiometry: 2DMHB + O2----2PhCHO + 2Ph(OMe)2CHO. Catalytic amounts of H2O2 are required for this aerobic reaction. Under anaerobic conditions, ligninase uses H2O2 as the oxidant for cleavage: DMHB + H2O2----PhCHO + Ph(OMe)2CHO. Electron spin resonance experiments done in the presence of spin traps, 2-methyl-2-nitrosopropane or 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide, show that C alpha-C beta cleavage yields alpha-hydroxybenzyl radicals as intermediate products. Under anaerobic conditions, these radicals react further to give the final aldehyde products. In air, O2 adds to the carbon-centered radicals, probably giving alpha-hydroxybenzylperoxyl radicals which fragment to yield superoxide, benzaldehyde, and veratraldehyde. These results lead us to propose a mechanism for C alpha-C beta cleavage in which attack by ligninase and H2O2 on the methoxylated ring of DMHB yields a cation radical, which then cleaves to give either benzaldehyde and an alpha-hydroxy(dimethoxybenzyl) radical or veratraldehyde and an alpha-hydroxybenzyl radical (cf. Kersten, P. J., Tien, M., Kalyanaraman, B., and Kirk, T.K. (1985) J. Biol. Chem. 260, 2609-2612; Snook, M. E., and Hamilton, G. A. (1974) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 96, 860-869). Similar mechanisms probably apply to the enzymatic C alpha-C beta cleavage of natural lignin.     

Recent advances in studies of the mechanisms of microbial degradation of lignins

Major advances in our understanding of the biochemical and enzymological mechanisms of lignin biodegradation have been made in the past three years. Research has principally involved two ligninolytic microorganisms, the white rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium and the actinomycete Streptomyces viridosporus. Research has been centred on attempts to identify the microbial catalysts that mediate lignin decay in these two microbes. Emphasis has been on studies concerned with isolating specific lignin catabolic enzymes and/or reduced forms of oxygen involved in attacking the lignin polymer. The possibility that lignin degradation might be non-enzymatic and mediated by extracellular reduced oxygen species such as hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), superoxide (O₂∪c-|_.), hydroxyl radical (·OH) or singlet oxygen (¹O₂) has been investigated with both microorganisms. Using methods which have not always been unequivocal, the question of involvement of reduced oxygen species in lignin degradation by P. chrysosporium has been examined exhaustively. Evidence for the involvement of H₂O₂ is conclusive. However, there is little evidence to support the involvement of other extracellular reduced oxygen species, including ·OH, directly in the process of lignin degradation. Scavenger studies have been inconclusive because of questions of their specificity. If activated oxygen species are involved, the activated oxygen is probably held within the active site of an enzyme molecule. With S. viridosporus, scavenger studies also strongly indicate that extracellular reduced oxygen species are not involved in lignin degradation since scavengers generally do not significantly affect the ligninolytic system. The involvement of specific enzymes in lignin degradation by both P. chrysosporium and S. viridosporus has now been confirmed. With P. chrysosporium, ligninolytic enzymes recently discovered include extracellular non-specific peroxidases and oxygenases. They show numerous activities including dehydrogenative, peroxidatic, oxygenative and C_α?C_β cleavages of lignin side chains. At least one P. chrysosporium enzyme, a unique H₂O₂-requiring oxygenase, has been purified to homogeneity. Evidence has been presented to show that S. viridosporus also produces a ligninolytic enzyme complex involved in demethylation of lignin's aromatic rings and in the oxidation of lignin side chains and cleavage of β-tether linkages within the polymer. The combined activites of these enzymes generate water-soluble polymeric modified lignin fragments, which are then slowly degraded further by S. viridosporus. The β-ether cleaving enzyme complex is probably membrane associated, but it is not extracellular. These first isolations of ligninolytic enzymes have changed the course of basic research on lignin biodegradation. New research priorities are already emerging and include enzyme purifications, kinetic studies, enzyme reaction mechanism studies and screenings for more enzymes. In addition, genetic studies are being carried out with both P. chrysosporium and S. viridosporus. Genetic manipulations include not only classical mutagenesis techniques, but also recombinant DNA techniques such as protoplast fusion. This latter technique has already been used to generate overproducers of the ligninolytic enzyme complex in S. viridosporus and it has been successfully used to recombine mutant strains of P. chrysosporium.     

Superoxide anion and hydroxyl radical scavenging activities of vegetable extracts measured using electron spin resonance.

Radical scavenging by reconstituted lyophilized powders of water extracts from 16 common vegetables was measured using electron spin resonance (ESR) with 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO), hydroxyl radicals, (.OH) or superoxide anion radicals (O2.-), as DMPO-OH or DMPO-OOH spin adducts. On a dry weight basis, eggplant, and red, yellow and green bell pepper extracts showed potent superoxide anion radical scavenging activities (SOD-like activities). Ascorbate oxidase- or heat-treatments, decreased SOD-like activities in bell pepper extracts suggesting that ascorbate accounts for much of their free radical scavenging activity. Eggplant epidermis extract exhibited the most potent hydroxyl radical scavenging and SOD-like activities. Eggplant SOD-like activity did not decrease after ascorbate oxidase treatment, but decreased following ultrafiltration demonstrating that SOD-like activity is partially due to high molecular weight substances. Nasunin, an anthocyanin in eggplant epidermis, showed markedly potent superoxide anion radical scavenging activity, while it inhibited hydroxyl radical generation probably by chelating ferrous ion.     

黄孢原毛平革菌木素过氧化物酶类在天然木素降解中作用的研究

通过诱变得到十一株木素过氧化物酶酶活降低的黄孢原毛平革菌（Ｐｈａｎｅｒｏｃｈａｅｔｅｃｈｒｙｓｏｓｐｏｒｉｕｍ）突变株,用灰色理论分析了其木素过氧化物酶类的产生与木素降解能力间的相关性,并从中筛选到一株木素过氧化物酶缺陷、锰过氧化物酶酶活明显降低的突变株,其木素降解能力为原始菌株的８０％左右。该菌粗酶液作用于纤维素酶酶解杉木木素和天然褐腐木素,可产生小分子的木素降解产物,此反应不需Ｈ２Ｏ２参与。红外光谱分析表明粗酶液对木素的作用主要为氧化作用,因此推测此突变株粗酶液中含有不同于木素过氧化物酶和锰过氧化物酶的与木素氧化降解有关的酶类     

Ultrastructural Localization of Hydrogen Peroxide Production in Ligninolytic Phanerochaete chrysosporium Cells

Previous studies have shown that the hydroxyl radical derived from hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) is involved in lignin degradation by Phanerochaete chrysosporium. In the present study, the ultrastructural sites of H₂O₂ production in ligninolytic cells of P. chrysosporium were demonstrated by cytochemically staining cells with 3,3′-diaminobenzidine (DAB). Hydrogen peroxide production, as evidenced by the presence of oxidized DAB deposits, appeared to be localized in the periplasmic space of cells from ligninolytic cultures grown for 14 days in nitrogen-limited medium. When identical cells were treated with DAB in the presence of aminotriazole, periplasmic deposits of oxidized DAB were not observed, suggesting that the deposits resulted from the H₂O₂-dependent peroxidatic oxidation of DAB by catalase. Cells from cultures grown for 3 or 6 days in nitrogen-limited medium or for 14 days in nitrogen-sufficient medium had little ligninolytic activity and low specific activity for H₂O₂ production and did not contain periplasmic oxidized DAB deposits. The results suggest that in cultures grown in nitrogen-limited medium, there is a positive correlation between the occurrence of oxidized DAB deposits, the specific activity for H₂O₂ production in cell extracts, and ligninolytic activity.     

Egg yolk phosvitin inhibits hydroxyl radical formation from the fenton reaction

Phosvitin, a phosphoprotein known as an iron-carrier in egg yolk, binds almost all the yolk iron. In this study, we investigated the effect of phosvitin on Fe(II)-catalyzed hydroxyl radical ((.-)OH) formation from H(2)O(2) in the Fenton reaction system. Using electron spin resonance (ESR) with 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO) and deoxyribose degradation assays, we observed by both assays that phosvitin more effectively inhibited (.-)OH formation than iron-binding proteins such as ferritin and transferrin. The effectiveness of phosvitin was related to the iron concentration, indicating that phosvitin acts as an antioxidant by chelating iron ions. Phosvitin accelerates Fe(II) autoxidation and thus decreases the availability of Fe(II) for participation in the (.-)OH-generating Fenton reaction. Furthermore, using the plasmid DNA strand breakage assay, phosvitin protected DNA against oxidative damage induced by Fe(II) and H(2)O(2). These results provide insight into the mechanism of protection of the developing embryo against iron-dependent oxidative damage in ovo.     

Oxidative degradation of phenanthrene by the ligninolytic fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium.

The ligninolytic fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium oxidized phenanthrene and phenanthrene-9,10-quinone (PQ) at their C-9 and C-10 positions to give a ring-fission product, 2,2'-diphenic acid (DPA), which was identified in chromatographic and isotope dilution experiments. DPA formation from phenanthrene was somewhat greater in low-nitrogen (ligninolytic) cultures than in high-nitrogen (nonligninolytic) cultures and did not occur in uninoculated cultures. The oxidation of PQ to DPA involved both fungal and abiotic mechanisms, was unaffected by the level of nitrogen added, and was significantly faster than the cleavage of phenanthrene to DPA. Phenanthrene-trans-9,10-dihydrodiol, which was previously shown to be the principal phenanthrene metabolite in nonligninolytic P. chrysosporium cultures, was not formed in the ligninolytic cultures employed here. These results suggest that phenanthrene degradation by ligninolytic P. chrysosporium proceeds in order from phenanthrene----PQ----DPA, involves both ligninolytic and nonligninolytic enzymes, and is not initiated by a classical microsomal cytochrome P-450. The extracellular lignin peroxidases of P. chrysosporium were not able to oxidize phenanthrene in vitro and therefore are also unlikely to catalyze the first step of phenanthrene degradation in vivo. Both phenanthrene and PQ were mineralized to similar extents by the fungus, which supports the intermediacy of PQ in phenanthrene degradation, but both compounds were mineralized significantly less than the structurally related lignin peroxidase substrate pyrene was.     

Cautionary note for DMPO spin trapping in the presence of iron ion

2-Hydroxy-5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrrolidinyloxy (DMPO-OH), which is known to be produced by spin trapping of hydroxyl radicals (.OH) with 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO) and has been a good monitor for detecting .OH in biological systems, has been examined by EPR for its production scheme in the presence of iron ion. In an aqueous DMPO solution containing ferric ion (Fe3+), DMPO-OH was produced and addition of methanol, a good scavenger for .OH, to this solution led to an aminoxyl radical, DMPO-OCH3, instead of DMPO-CH2OH which is produced by DMPO spin trapping of .CH2OH arising from H-abstraction by .OH. Also EPR measurements at 77K indicated the formation of a chelate between DMPO and Fe3+. Based on these, it has been elucidated that DMPO-OH as well as DMPO-OCH3 is formed by the nucleophilic attack of water and methanol to the chelating DMPO, respectively.     

Lignin and veratryl alcohol are not inducers of the ligninolytic system of Phanerochaete chrysosporium.

Phanerochaete chrysosporium is a white rot fungus which secretes a family of lignin-degrading enzymes under nutrient limitation. In this work, we investigated the roles of veratryl alcohol and lignin in the ligninolytic system of P. chrysosporium BKM-F-1767 cultures grown under nitrogen-limited conditions. Cultures supplemented with 0.4 to 2 mM veratryl alcohol showed increased lignin peroxidase activity. Addition of veratryl alcohol had no effect on Mn-dependent peroxidase activity and inhibited glyoxal oxidase activity. Azure-casein analysis of acidic proteases in the extracellular fluid showed that protease activity decreased during the early stages of secondary metabolism while lignin peroxidase activity was at its peak, suggesting that proteolysis was not involved in the regulation of lignin peroxidase activity during early secondary metabolism. In cultures supplemented with lignin or veratryl alcohol, no induction of mRNA coding for lignin peroxidase H2 or H8 was observed. Veratryl alcohol protected lignin peroxidase isozymes H2 and H8 from inactivation by H2O2. We conclude that veratryl alcohol acts as a stabilizer of lignin peroxidase activity and not as an inducer of lignin peroxidase synthesis.     

Lignin peroxidase oxidation of Mn2+ in the presence of veratryl alcohol, malonic or oxalic acid, and oxygen

Veratryl alcohol (3,4-dimethoxybenzyl alcohol) appears to have multiple roles in lignin degradation by Phanerochaete chrysosporium. It is synthesized de novo by the fungus. It apparently induces expression of lignin peroxidase (LiP), and it protects LiP from inactivation by H2O2. In addition, veratryl alcohol has been shown to potentiate LiP oxidation of compounds that are not good LiP substrates. We have now observed the formation of Mn3+ in reaction mixtures containing LiP, Mn2+, veratryl alcohol, malonate buffer, H2O2, and O2. No Mn3+ was formed if veratryl alcohol or H2O2 was omitted. Mn3+ formation also showed an absolute requirement for oxygen, and oxygen consumption was observed in the reactions. This suggests involvement of active oxygen species. In experiments using oxalate (a metabolite of P. chrysosporium) instead of malonate, similar results were obtained. However, in this case, we detected (by ESR spin-trapping) the production of carbon dioxide anion radical (CO2.-) and perhydroxyl radical (.OOH) in reaction mixtures containing LiP, oxalate, veratryl alcohol, H2O2, and O2. Our data indicate the formation of oxalate radical, which decays to CO2 and CO2.-. The latter reacts with O2 to form O2.-, which then oxidizes Mn2+ to Mn3+. No radicals were detected in the absence of veratryl alcohol. These results indicate that LiP can indirectly oxidize Mn2+ and that veratryl alcohol is probably a radical mediator in this system.     

One-electron reduction of chromate by NADPH-dependent glutathione reductase

Electron spin resonance (ESR) measurements provide evidence for the formation of Cr(V) intermediates in the enzymatic reduction of Cr(VI) by glutathione reductase (GSSG-R) in the presence of NADPH, indicating an initial single-electron transfer step in the reduction mechanism. Depending on the pH, at least two different Cr(V) species are generated which are relatively long-lived. In addition, we have detected the hydroxyl (.OH) radical formation during the GSSG-R catalyzed reduction of Cr(VI) by spin trapping, employing 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO) and alpha-(4-pyridyl-1-oxide)-N-tert-butylnitrone (4-POBN) as spin traps. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) causes only a minor effect on the .OH radical and Cr(V) formation, indicating that the O2- is not significantly involved in the reaction mechanism. Catalase enhances the Cr(V) formation and substantially inhibits the .OH radical formation, indicating the involvement of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in the reaction mechanism. Addition of H2O2 suppresses Cr(V) and enhances the .OH radical formation. Measurements involving N-ethylmaleimide show that the Cr(V) species, produced enzymatically by the reduction of Cr(VI) by GSSG-R, react with H2O2 to generate .OH radicals, which might participate in the initiation of Cr(VI) carcinogenicity.     

Involvement of a new enzyme, glyoxal oxidase, in extracellular H2O2 production by Phanerochaete chrysosporium.

The importance of extracellular H2O2 in lignin degradation has become increasingly apparent with the recent discovery of H2O2-requiring ligninases produced by white-rot fungi. Here we describe a new H2O2-producing activity of Phanerochaete chrysosporium that involves extracellular oxidases able to use simple aldehyde, alpha-hydroxycarbonyl, or alpha-dicarbonyl compounds as substrates. The activity is expressed during secondary metabolism, when the ligninases are also expressed. Analytical isoelectric focusing of the extracellular proteins, followed by activity staining, indicated that minor proteins with broad substrate specificities are responsible for the oxidase activity. Two of the oxidase substrates, glyoxal and methylglyoxal, were also identified, as their quinoxaline derivatives, in the culture fluid as secondary metabolites. The significance of these findings is discussed with respect to lignin degradation and other proposed systems for H2O2 production in P. chrysosporium.     

Production of hydroxyl free radical in the xanthine oxidase system with addition of 1-methyl-3-nitro-1-nitrosoguanidine

We have examined the mechanism of 1-methyl-3-nitro-1-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG)-induced gastric cancer with respect to the production of hydroxyl free radical (OH). Nucleophilic attack by H2O2 on the nitroso group of MNNG produces 1-methyl-3-nitroguanidine (MNG) and the intermediate peroxynitric acid (ONOOH), which splits into hydroxyl free radical (OH) and nitrogen dioxide leading to the formation of nitric and nitrate ions in water. Xanthine oxidase (XO) induces the production of O2.- or H2O2 from molecular oxygen, depending on the overall level of enzyme reduction. In this study, we examined OH production by the reaction of MNNG with H2O2 derived from the XO-HX system containing XO and the purine substrate hypoxanthine by ESR using the spin trapping reagent 5,5'-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO). OH was produced in the XO-HX-DMPO system with addition of MNNG (the MNNG-XO-HX-DMPO system) under aerobic conditions, but was not in the XO-HX-DMPO system, and production of OH was inhibited by catalase but not by superoxide dismutase, suggesting that OH was produced by the reaction of MNNG with H2O2 derived from the XO-HX system. The production of OH was significantly increased with increase in the reducing activity of XO, though that of O2.- was not, also suggesting the O2(.-)-independent .OH production. The productions of nitrite ion and MNG in the MNNG-XO-HX system were determined by the colorimetric method and HPLC, respectively. Based on these findings, we conclude that .OH was produced by homolytic split of the intermediate ONOOH formed by nucleophilic attack of H2O2 derived from the XO-HX system on MNNG.     

Pyranose Oxidase, a Major Source of H(2)O(2) during Wood Degradation by Phanerochaete chrysosporium, Trametes versicolor, and Oudemansiella mucida

The production of the H(2)O(2)-generating enzyme pyranose oxidase (POD) (EC 1.1.3.10) (synonym, glucose 2-oxidase), two ligninolytic peroxidases, and laccase in wood decayed by three white rot fungi was investigated by correlated biochemical, immunological, and transmission electron microscopic techniques. Enzyme activities were assayed in extracts from decayed birch wood blocks obtained by a novel extraction procedure. With the coupled peroxidase-chromogen (3-dimethylaminobenzoic acid plus 3-methyl-2-benzothiazolinone hydrazone hydrochloride) spectrophotometric assay, the highest POD activities were detected in wood blocks degraded for 4 months and were for Phanerochaete chrysosporium (149 mU g [dry weight] of decayed wood), Trametes versicolor (45 mU g), and Oudemansiella mucida (1.2 mU g), corresponding to wood dry weight losses of 74, 58, and 13%, respectively. Mn-dependent peroxidase activities in the same extracts were comparable to those of POD, while lignin peroxidase activity was below the detection limit for all fungi with the veratryl alcohol assay. Laccase activity was high with T. versicolor (422 mU g after 4 months), in trace levels with O. mucida, and undetectable in P. chrysosporium extracts. Evidence for C-2 specificity of POD was shown by thin-layer chromatography detection of 2-keto-d-glucose as the reaction product. By transmission electron microscopy-immunocytochemistry, POD was found to be preferentially localized in the hyphal periplasmic space of P. chrysosporium and O. mucida and associated with membranous materials in hyphae growing within the cell lumina or cell walls of partially and highly degraded birch fibers. An extracellular distribution of POD associated with slime coating wood cell walls was also noted. The periplasmic distribution in hyphae and extracellular location of POD are consistent with the reported ultrastructural distribution of H(2)O(2)-dependent Mn-dependent peroxidases. This fact and the dominant presence of POD and Mn-dependent peroxidase in extracts from degraded wood suggest a cooperative role of the two enzymes during white rot decay by the test fungi.     

New polymeric model substrates for the study of microbial ligninolysis.

Lignin model dimers are valuable tools for the elucidation of microbial ligninolytic mechanisms, but their low molecular weight (MW) makes them susceptible to nonligninolytic intracellular metabolism. To address this problem, we prepared lignin models in which unlabeled and alpha-14C-labeled beta-O-4-linked dimers were covalently attached to 8,000-MW polyethylene glycol (PEG) or to 45,000-MW polystyrene (PS). The water-soluble PEG-linked model was mineralized extensively in liquid medium and in solid wood cultures by the white rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium, whereas the water-insoluble PS-linked model was not. Gel permeation chromatography showed that P. chrysosporium degraded the PEG-linked model by cleaving its lignin dimer substructure rather than its PEG moiety. C alpha-C beta cleavage was the major fate of the PEG-linked model after incubation with P. chrysosporium in vivo and also after oxidation with P. chrysosporium lignin peroxidase in vitro. The brown rot fungus Gloeophyllum trabeum, which unlike P. chrysosporium lacks a vigorous extracellular ligninolytic system, was unable to degrade the PEG-linked model efficiently. These results show that PEG-linked lignin models are a marked improvement over the low-MW models that have been used in the past.     

Hydroxyl radical production by H2O2 plus Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase reflects the activity of free copper released from the oxidatively damaged enzyme.

To elaborate the catalytic activity of Cu2+ of Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the generation of hydroxyl radical (.OH) from H2O2, we investigated the mechanism of inactivation of alpha 1-protease inhibitor (alpha 1-PI), mediated by H2O2 and Cu,Zn-SOD. When alpha 1-PI was incubated with 500 units/ml Cu,Zn-SOD and 1.0 mM H2O2, 60% of anti-elastase activity of alpha 1-PI was lost within 90 min. ESR spin trapping using 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide showed that free .OH was indeed generated in the reaction of Cu,Zn-SOD/H2O2; this was substantiated by the almost complete eradication of .OH by either ethanol or dimethyl sulfoxide accompanied by the generation of carbon-centered radicals. .OH production and alpha 1-PI inactivation in the H2O2/SOD system became apparent at 30 min or later. Dimethyl sulfoxide and 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide protected inactivation of alpha 1-PI significantly in this system, indicating that alpha 1-PI inactivation was mediated by .OH. SOD activity decreased rapidly during the reaction with H2O2 for the initial 30 min. Time-dependent changes in the ESR signal of SOD showed the destruction of ligands for Cu2+ in SOD by H2O2 within this initial period. Thus we conclude that inactivation of alpha 1-PI is mediated in the H2O2/Cu,Zn-SOD system via the generation of .OH by free Cu2+ released from oxidatively damaged SOD.