Destructing Model Lignin Compounds by the Pioneering Strains of Fungi Colonizing Wood Wastes

Biological transformation routes were studied for some aromatic compounds by the strains of fungi†Trichoderma asperellum†and†Penicillium cyclopium isolated earlier from hydrolytic lignin. It has been demonstrated that the destruction of these compounds is of oxidative nature. The biological transformation of aromatic substrates is accompanied by the reactions of α-oxidation, demethylation, oligomerization, aromatic ring destruction. Cellulase and Mn-dependent peroxidase were revealed to be present in the enzymatic complexes of the fungi. Correlation between the dynamics of Mn-dependent peroxidase activity and the rate of aromatic compound destruction has been observed. For composting lignocellulosic wastes, the strains†Trichoderma asperellum†Nos. 3, 10 and 11 those exhibit the maximal Mn-peroxidase activity and a high rate of aromatic substrate utilization have been chosen.