Screening of basidiomycetes for lignin peroxidase genes using a DNA probe

Abstract
Basidiomycetes were screened for lignin peroxidase (LPO) genes using a DNA probe prepared from the LPO restriction fragment ofPhanerochaete chrysosporium. Southern blot analysis showed restriction fragments of chromosomal DNA ofBjerkandera adusta andCoriolus consors hybridized with the probe.Bjerkandera adusta produced LPO in a glucose-peptone medium. Ion-exchange chromatography showed that this fungus produced multiple molecular forms of LPO. One of the enzymes, LPO-2, was purified and characterized. The molecular weight of LPO-2 was 41000 with a pI of 4.2. Spectral analysis demonstrated that LPO-2 is a haem protein. The enzyme cleaved lignin model dimers mainly at the Cα-Cβ position of the side chain. The LPO-2 exhibited close similarity to LPOs ofP. chrysosporium with respect to their basic properties.