Extracellular lipid peroxidation of selective white-rot fungus, Ceriporiopsis subvermispora

Ceriporiopsis subvermispora is capable of decomposing lignin without penetration of enzymes into wood cell walls. To elucidate the mechanism of lignolysis at a site far from enzymes, peroxidation of low molecular mass compounds produced by this fungus was analyzed. C. subvermispora produced free 9,12-octadecadienoic, 9-octadecenoic, 11-octadecenoic, hexadecanoic and octadecanoic acids, predominantly at an early stage of cultivation on wood meal cultures. In prolonged cultivation period after 2 weeks, the amount of intact fatty acids decreased with increasing organic hydroperoxide and TBARS production. These results suggest that lignin degradation by C. subvermispora is related to extracellular lipid peroxidation.