A fungal metabolite mediates degradation of non‐phenolic lignin structures and synthetic lignin by laccase

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Abstract
Lignin peroxidase is generally considered to be a primary catalyst for oxidative depolymerization of lignin by white-rot fungi. However, some white-rot fungi lack lignin peroxidase. Instead, many produce laccase, even though the redox potentials of known laccases are two to directly oxidize non-phenolic components of lignin. Pycnoporus cinnabarinus is one example of a laccase-producing fungus that degrades lignin very efficiently. To overcome the redox potential barrier, P. cinnabarinus produces a metabolite, 3-hydroxyanthranilate that can mediate the oxidation of non-phenolic substrates by laccase. This is the first description of how laccase might function in a biological system for the complete depolymerization of lignin.