Transformation Of : Its Significance In Humification trans : Its Significance In Humification-4-hydroxycinnamic Acid By A Laccase Of The Fungus : Its Significance In Humification trametes Versicolor : Its Significance In Humification

A lignin precursor, trans-4-hydroxycinnamic acid, was incubated with an extracellular laccase from the fungus Trametes versicolor. Oxidative coupling of the substrate occurred, and dimers were isolated by thin-layer chromatography. One such dimer was structurally identified as trans-4-hydroxy-3-(trans-4′-cinnamyloxy) cinnamic acid using mass spectrometric and proton nuclear magnetic resonance analyses. The significance of both the substrate and product relative to lignin synthesis, lignin degradation, and humus synthesis is discussed.