A3 Refereed book chapter or chapter in a compilation book
Fungal lignin-modifying peroxidases and H2O2-Producing enzymes
Authors: Mäkelä Miia R., Hildén Kristiina S., Kuuskeri Jaana
Editors: Óscar Zaragoza, Arturo Casadevall
Publisher: Elsevier
Publication year: 2021
Book title : Encyclopedia of Mycology
Journal name in source: Encyclopedia of Mycology
Volume: 2
First page : 247
Last page: 259
ISBN: 978-0-12-819990-9
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-809633-8.21127-8
Web address : https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-809633-8.21127-8
Lignin-modifying fungi are unique in their ability to degrade and modify aromatic lignin that is the most recalcitrant polymer present in plant cell walls. This is mostly due to their extracellular oxidative enzymes that catalyze unspecific reactions. In particular, class II heme peroxidases secreted by the basidiomycete white-rot fungi that inhabit wood and forest litter, are crucial in this process. In addition, enzymes that produce H2O2, a key metabolite in fungal plant biomass degradation, are essential e.g., for the heme peroxidase-catalyzed reactions. In this article, we provide an overview of the fungal lignin-modifying peroxidases and H2O2-producing enzymes, as well as potential applications of these enzymes in different fields of biotechnology.