Purification and Partial Characterization of Lignin Peroxidase from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acinetobacter calcoaceticus</Emphasis> NCIM 2890 and Its Application in Decolorization of Textile Dyes

Lignin peroxidase was purified (72-fold) from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus NCIM 2890. The purified lignin peroxidase (55–65 kDa) showed dimeric nature. The maximum enzyme activity was observed at pH 1.0, between a broad temperature range of 50 and 70°C, at H₂O₂ concentration (40 mM) and the substrate concentration (n-propanol, 100 mM). Purified lignin peroxidase was able to oxidize a variety of substrates including Mn²⁺, tryptophan, mimosine, l-Dopa, hydroquinone, xylidine, n-propanol, veratryl alcohol, and ten textile dyes of various groups indicating as a versatile peroxidase. Most of the dyes decolorized up to 90%. Tryptophan stabilizes the lignin peroxidase activity during decolorization of dyes.     

Study of the substrate specificities of the extracellular lignin peroxidases of the wood-destroying fungusPleurotus ostreatus

The substrate specificities of two forms of purified extracellular lignin peroxidase isolated from a total enzyme preparation of the fungus Pleurotus ostreatus — LGP-1 and LGP-II — have been determined. The substrate specificities of the isoenzymes differ considerably: LGP-I preferentially destroys model compounds of lignin — the -guaiacyl ether of I-veratrylpropanol, coniferyl alcohol, and pyrocatechol, while LGP-II is most specific in relation to veratryl alcohol, veratrylpropane-1,3-diol, and vanillyl alcohol. Both forms partially oxidize syringaldazine and ABTS. The isoenzymes possess peroxidase and oxidase properties simultaneously, since veratryl, vanillyl, and coniferyl alcohols were oxidized by both forms of the enzyme only in the presence of H₂O₂, which confirms their peroxidase natures. At the same time, ABTS, syringaldazine, pyrocatechol, and o -phenylenediamine were also oxidized by the lignin peroxidase in the absence of H₂O₂, which confirms their oxidase function. The isoenzymes also possess Mn-peroxidase activity in relation to NADH. Since almost all substrates were oxidized by the enzymes only in the presence of hydrogen peroxide, they cannot be assigned to the class of oxidases. On the other hand, the LGP ofP. ostreatus is not Mn-dependent, since the presence of manganese ions had no effect whatever on the oxidation of aromatic substrates by the enzyme. Moreover, both forms of the enzyme oxidized veratryl alcohol — a specific substrate for ligninases, which permits the extracellular isoenzymes of P. ostreatus, LGP-I and LGP-II, to be assigned to the class of ligninases.Institute of Microbiology, Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Tashkent, fax (3712) 41 71 29. Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 4, pp. 596–601, July–August, 1996. Original article submitted November 11, 1994.     

In vitro degradation of insoluble lignin in aqueous media by lignin peroxidase and manganese peroxidase

The abilities of lignin peroxidase (LIP) and manganese peroxidase (MNP) fromPhanerochaete chrysosporium to degrade an insoluble hardwood lignin in vitro in aqueous media were tested. Neither LIP nor MNP appreciably changed the mass or lignin content, although both produced small amounts of unique solubilized lignin fragments. Treatment with both LIP and MNP, however, decreased the mass by 11%, decreased the lignin content by 5.1% (4.2% as total weight), and solubilized unique lignin-derived molecules. These results suggest that LIP and MNP synergistically degrade high molecular weight insoluble lignin, but singly, neither enzyme is sufficient to effect lignin degradation.     

Oxidation capacity of laccases and peroxidases as reflected in experiments with methoxy-substituted benzyl alcohols

A set of methoxy-substituted benzyl alcohol (MBA) congeners were examined regarding susceptibility to oxidation by Trametes versicolor laccase, T. versicolor lignin peroxidase and horseradish peroxidase: 2,4,5-trimethoxybenzyl alcohol (DMBA), 3,4,5-TMBA, 2,3,4-TMBA, 2,5-dimethoxybenzyl alcohol (DMBA), 3,4-DMBA, and 2,3-DMBA. The corresponding methoxysubstituted benzaldehydes were strongly predominant as products on enzymic oxidation. This together with different reaction rates and redox potentials makes the MBAs suitable as substrates in the characterization of ligninolytic enzymes. For fungal laccase, the reaction rate order was: 2,4,5-TMBA≫2,5-DMBA>3,4-DMBA>3,4,5-TMBA∼2,3,4-TMBA∼2,3-DMBA. Horseradish peroxidase displayed a similar reactivity order. Oxidation of some of the MBAs with laccase and horseradish peroxidase was only observed when the reactions were carried out at low pH and with relatively high-substrate concentration. 3,4-DMBA (veratryl alcohol) was the best substrate for lignin peroxidase and the reaction rate order was: 3,4-DMBA>2,4,5-TMBA∼3,4,5-TMBA>2,5-DMBA>2,3,4-TMBA∼2,3-DMBA. The oxidation experiments with different MBAs elucidate the potential of the enzymes as oxidants in various applications.     

Lignin biodegradation by the ascomyceteChrysonilia sitophila

The lignin biodegradation process has an important role in the carbon cycle of the biosphere. The study of this natural process has developed mainly with the use of basidiomycetes in laboratory investigations. This has been a logical approach since most of the microorganisms involved in lignocellulosic degradation belong to this class of fungi. However, other microorganisms such as ascomycetes and also some bacteria, are involved in the lignin decaying process. This work focuses on lignin biodegradation by a microorganism belonging to the ascomycete class,Chrysonilia sitophila. Lignin peroxidase production and characterization, mechanisms of lignin degradation (lignin model compounds and lignin in wood matrix) and biosynthesis of veratryl alcohol are outstanding. Applications of C.sitophila for effluent treatment, wood biodegradation and single-cell protein production are also discussed.     

Role of chain transfer in heterogeneous polymerization of ethylene

The role of chain transfer was studied for the radiation-induced polymerization of ethylene in precipitating media, namely n-butyl alcohol, tert-butyl alcohol and their mixtures. The affinities of those solvents for polyethylene are similar, but the chain-transfer coefficient of n-butyl alcohol is larger than that of tert-butyl alcohol. The polymerizations were carried out in a reactor of 100 ml under a pressure of 300 kg/cm², at 60°C, dose rate of 3.07 × 10⁴–1.75 × 10⁵ rad/hr in the presence of 50 ml of solvents. The polymerization in tert-butyl alcohol shows the kinetic behavior characteristic of a heterogeneous polymerization, such as rate acceleration, high dose rate dependence of polymerization rate, and low dose rate dependence of polymer molecular weight, whereas the polymerization in n-butyl alcohol does not exhibit such behavior and gives polymer having a molecular weight much lower than that of polymer obtained in tert-butyl alcohol. The polymer formed in tert-butyl alcohol exhibits a bimodal molecular weight distribution measured by gel permeation chromatography. In mixed tert-butyl alcohol and n-butyl alcohol solvent, with increasing fraction of n-butyl alcohol, the two peaks not only shift to lower molecular weight but the higher molecular weight peak becomes relatively small. Eventually, the polymer formed in n-butyl alcohol exhibits a unimodal distribution. Those results are well explained on the basis of the proposed scheme for heterogeneous polymerization.     

Fungal Biodegradation of Lignin Graft Copolymers from Ethene Monomers

Abstract

White rot Basidiomycetes were able to biodegrade styrene (1-phenylethene) or methyl methacrylate (4-methyl-2-oxy-3-oxopent-4-ene) graft copolymers of lignin containing different proportions of lignin and polystyrene [poly(1-phenylethylene)] or polymethyl methacrylate [poly(1-methyl-1-(1-oxo-2-oxypropyl)ethylene)]. The biodegradation tests were run on lignin/styrene copolymerization products which contained 10.3, 32.2, and 50.4 wt% lignin while biodegradation tests were run on lignin/methyl methacrylate copolymerization products which contained 11 to 18 wt% lignin. The styrene polymer samples were incubated with white rot Pleurotus ostreatus, Phanerochaete chrysosporium, Trametes versicolor, and brown rot Gloeophyllum trabeum. The methyl methacrylate polymer samples were incubated with white rot Pleurotus ostreatus, Trametes versicolor, and Phlebia radiata. White rot fungi degraded the plastic samples at a rate which increased with increasing lignin content in the copolymer sample. Both polystyrene and lignin components of the copolymer were readily degraded. Polystyrene pellets and polymethyl methacrylate sheets were not degradable in these tests. Degradation was verified by weight loss, quantitative ultraviolet spectrophotometric analysis of both lignin and styrene residue, and scanning electron microscopy of the plastic surface for both incubated or control samples. Brown rot fungus did not affect any of these plastics.     

Coionomeric mixtures of polyhydroxyethers and ethylene methacrylic acid copolymers. I. Effects of cation concentration and ABA oligomeric miscibilisers on morphology and properties

Mixtures of a phenoxy polymer (polyhydroxyether of bis-phenol A) and a polyolefin ionomer (sodium ionomer of ethylene methacrylic acid copolymer) were compatibilized by the addition of small amounts of sodium ethoxide and/or by the incorporation of varying amounts of A-B-A block oligomers. The latter were produced by reacting several bis-phenol A epoxy resins, varying in molecular weight, with montanic acid in order to provide segments soluble in each of the two polymer components of the blend. Chemical miscibilization by the addition of sodium ethoxide changed the morphology into one containing larger amounts of cocontinuous phases, while the incorporation of substantial amounts of A-B-A oligomer brought about primarily the formation of irregular and highly elongated particles. The mixtures were found to exhibit the typical properties of ionomers which were enhanced by the addition of sodium ethoxide. Furthermore sufficient evidence was gathered to establish that the ionomeric aggregates are shared by both polymer components of the blend, from which the term coionomeric mixture is derived. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Horseradish peroxidase-catalyzed polymerization of<Emphasis Type="Italic"> p</Emphasis>-hydroxycinnamic acid for synthesis of reactive microspheres

In this article, we report the experimental synthesis of reactive polymer microspheres of poly(p-hydroxycinnamic acid). Enzyme-catalyzed polymerization of poly(p-hydroxycinnamic acid) using horseradish peroxidase as a catalyst and hydrogen peroxide as an oxidant took place in a mixture solution of methanol and phosphate buffer solution; it was found that the fraction of methanol in the mixture solution strongly affected the yield of powdery polymer materials. The chemical structure of the polymers was characterized by ¹H-NMR and FT-IR spectroscopies, and the molecular weight was measured by gel permeation chromatography. The ¹H-NMR chart of the obtained polymer was almost the same as that of the monomer; FT-IR spectra indicated the existence of carboxyl groups. The weight-average molecular weight of the soluble part in tetrahydrofuran was found to be 1,451. Dispersion polymerization of p-hydroxycinnamic acid was carried out in a mixture solution of methanol and phosphate buffer solution by adding a dispersion stabilizer. Of the several such polymers tested, poly(vinyl alcohol) was found to be the most effective in producing reactive poly(p-hydroxycinnamic acid) microspheres.     

Synthesis and properties of lignin peroxidase fromstreptomyces viridosporus T7A

The production of lignin peroxidase byStreptomyces viridosporus T7A was studied in shake flasks and under aerobic conditions in a 7.5-L batch fermentor. Lignin peroxidase synthesis was found to be strongly affected by catabolite repression. Lignin peroxidase was a non-growth-associated, secondary metabolite. The maximum lignin peroxidase activity was 0.064 U/mL at 36 h.

In order to maximize lignin peroxidase activity, optimal conditions were determined. The optimal incubation temperature, pH, and substrate (2,4-dichlorophenol) concentration for the enzyme assays were 45°C, 6, and 3 mM, respectively. Stability of lignin peroxidase was determined at 37, 45, and 60°C, and over the pH range 4–9.

     

Soluble polyphenol

Soluble polyphenol was synthesized for the first time by enzymatic oxidative polymerization of phenol using peroxidase and hydrogen peroxide as catalyst and oxidizing agent, respectively. A mixed solvent of alcohol and buffer improved the polymer solubility toward N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF). The resulting polymer was composed of a mixture of phenylene and oxyphenylene units. Changing the solvent composition could control the molecular weight and regioselectivity of the polymer. The polymer was found to possess relatively high thermal stability.     

Use of steam explosion liquor from sugar cane bagasse for lignin peroxidase production by Phanerochaete chrysosporium

The possibility of using two by-products of the sugar cane industry, molasses and bagasse steam explosion liquor (SEL), for lignin peroxidase (LiP) production by Phanerochaete chrysosporium was investigated. For comparison, the fungus was initially cultivated in synthetic media containing either glucose, sucrose, xylose, or xylan as sole carbon sources. The effect of veratryl alcohol (VA) was also investigated in relation to the enzyme activity levels. Results showed that sucrose was not metabolized by this fungus, which precluded the use of molasses as a carbon source. Glucose, xylose, and xylan promoted equivalent cell growth. Enzyme levels in the absence of VA were lower than 28 UI/L and in the presence of VA reached 109 IU/L with glucose and 85 IU/L with xylose or xylan. SEL was adequate for P. chrysosporium LiP production as LiP activity reached 90 IU/L. When VA was added to this medium, enzyme concentration increased to 155 IU/L.     

POLYMERIZATION OF WATER-SOLUBLE CONDUCTIVE POLYPHENOL USING HORSERADISH PEROXIDASE

Template assisted enzymatic polymerization of phenol has been carried out in aqueous media at room temperature. The templates used to facilitate this reaction, were polystyrene sulfonate, lignin sulfonate and dodecyl benzene sulfonate. The enzyme, horseradish peroxidase, proved to be an active catalyst for the polymerization, yielding a phenolic polymer that is permanently complexed with the template used. These polyphenol complexes are high molecular weight, soluble in water and/or mixed organic solvents and show good thermal stability. Under certain conditions, physical SPS-polyphenol gels can be formed in water that have high ionic conductivity. UV-vis, FTIR and electro-absorption spectroscopy show the presence of significant backbone conjugation and NLO properties. This novel enzymatic approach is a simple, inexpensive and environmentally friendly way to prepare processable polyphenolic materials with interesting electrical and optical properties.

     

Effect of alcohols on the gamma-radiation-induced polymerization of ethylene

Gamma-radiation-induced polymerization of ethylene in alcohols such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, and n-pentyl alcohols was carried out under a pressure of 400 kg./cm.²at 30°C. at a dose rate of 1.4 × 10⁵ rad/hr. in a batch reactor of 100 ml. capacity. The yield and molecular weight of polymer formed in the alcohols (except tert-butyl alcohol) were much lower than those of the bulk polymerization under the same conditions, whereas the addition of tert-butyl alcohol increased the yield and reduced the molecular weight. From the infrared spectra of the polymers and those of the bromination products it was concluded that only primary OH exists in the polymer formed in methyl alcohol and that both primary and secondary OH are in the polymer formed in other primary alcohols. Both secondary and tertiary OH were observed in the polymer when the secondary alcohols were used, and only tertiary OH in the case of tert-butyl alcohol. These polymers were found to contain small amounts of vinylidene unsaturation and methyl group. On the basis of these results the roles of the alcohols in the polymerization are discussed.     

A novel scheme of heterogeneous polymerization of ethylene

The heterogeneous polymerization of ethylene initiated by radiation in tert-butyl alcohol was studied. The polymerization was carried out in a 100-ml reactor at 25–100°C and pressures of 200–300 kg/cm² in the presence of 50 ml of tert-butyl alcohol containing 7 wt-% water. The amounts of polymerized monomer, the average molecular weight of polymer formed, and the molecular weight distribution of polymer were measured at various stages of reaction and at various temperatures. The molecular weight distribution was found to be very much dependent on the reaction time and temperature. For the polymer formed at 50–60°C in the very early stages of reaction, the molecular weight distribution is unimodal, and in the intermediate stage a shoulder appears at a molecular weight higher than the first peak which increases as the polymerization proceeds; eventually a bimodal curve is formed. The bimodal distribution curves were analyzed to determine the fractions and average molecular weights of the each peak. On the basis of these data for the molecular weight distribution and kinetic behavior, a new scheme for the heterogeneous polymerization is proposed which indicates that the polymerization proceeds via propagating radicals in two different physical states, namely, loose and rigid states.     

Effect of temperature on the radiation-induced polymerization of ethylene in various media

The effects of temperature on the radiation-induced polymerization of ethylene in bulk and in the presence of ethyl alcohol, n-butyl alcohol, tert-butyl alcohol, cyclohexane, 2,2,4-trimethylpentane, and 2,2,5-trimethylhexane were studied. The changes of the amounts of polymerized monomer with the reaction temperature were different from each other in these reaction systems, especially in the range lower than 60–80°C. At temperatures lower than 60–80°C, as the reaction temperature increases, the amount of polymerized monomer decreased in bulk and in the presence of tert-butyl alcohol. The amount was almost constant in the presence of ethyl alcohol and 2,2,4-trimethylpentane, and it increased in the presence of n-butyl alcohol, cyclohexane, and 2,2,5-trimethylhexane. However, in the temperature range higher than 60–80°C, the amount of polymerized monomer increased with increasing temperature in every reaction system except for bulk polymerization. The molecular weight of polymer decreased with increasing temperature in every reaction system except at temperatures lower than 25°C. The molecular weight of polymer formed in bulk, in tert-butyl alcohol, and also in 2,2,4-trimethylpentane were relatively higher than that in other reaction systems. A bimodal molecular weight distribution was observed for the polymer formed in bulk and in tert-butyl alcohol at 40–60°C. These results are discussed in connection with the heterogeneity of the reaction system. The differences due to temperature in each reaction system are explained as due to the difference in affinity of the reaction system for the propagating chain and in the facility of chain transfer to the medium.     

Immobilization as a tool for the stabilization of lignin peroxidase produced byPhanerochaete chrysosporium INA-12

Lignin peroxidase immobilization was achieved by covalent coupling on CNBr-Sepharose 4B. Protein immobilization yield was around 80%. For veratryl alcohol oxidation, in the presence of hydrogen peroxide, both soluble and bound enzymes exhibited the same pH profile with an optimum near 2.5. Catalytic parameters (kc andK _m ) were seriously affected by immobilization. On the other hand, immobilization provided a noticeable stabilization of the enzyme against acidic pH and high temperatures. A 15–20 increase in the half-inactivation times at pH 2.2 and 2.7, respectively, could be observed. Bound enzyme was also much more thermostable than soluble.     

Enzymatic synthesis of a soluble polyphenol derivative from 4,4′-biphenyldiol

Enzymatic oxidative polymerization of 4,4′-biphenyldiol was performed in an aqueous organic solvent using horseradish peroxidase as catalyst. In the polymerization using a mixture of 1,4-dioxane and phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) (80:20 vol-%) as solvent, the monomer was quantitatively consumed to give powdery polymeric materials in a high yield. The resulting polymer is soluble in polar solvents such as N,N-dimethylformamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, and acetone. The molecular weight of the methylated product is 7.3 × 10³. The polymer exhibits high thermal stability under nitrogen.     

Haloaldehyde Polymers. XIV. Endgroups in Polychloral

Chloral polymers prepared by anionic polymerization have alkoxide endgroups as terminal ends at the end of this polymerization. The initiating anion has, as expected, no influence on the type of terminal group formed. Polychloral with terminal alkoxide ends degrades easily thermally to monomeric chloral. Alkoxide endgroups in polychloral do not readily react with alkylating or acylating agents, although partial stabilization has been observed when alkoxide-terminated polymers were allowed to stand for periods of time; the endgroups seem to react either with impurities or with excess chloral in side reactions. With protic acids, alkoxide-terminated polychloral is transformed into hydroxyl-terminated polymer of higher thermal stability. Studies of the initiation step of the chloral polymerization revealed that above the ceiling temperature of polymerization, strong nucleophiles, such as soluble tertiary butoxide, initiate quantitatively, but polymerization does not proceed until the mixture is cooled. When chloral is initiated with weaker nucleophiles such as chloride or carboxylates, the initiation equilibrium is not on the side of the initiated species, although it shifts effectively as polymerization proceeds; with carboxylates as initiators the ester group has been found incorporated as the initial endgroup in polychloral. With sufficient amounts of lithium tertiary butoxide as anionic initiator, polychloral of low molecular weight was prepared. This polymer does not react with end-capping reagents (other than PCl₅) as does high molecular weight polychloral; in spite of considerable effort it was not possible to prepare low molecular weight soluble polychloral or oligomeric polychloral. Polychloral prepared with cationic initiators is thermally more stable than unstabilized anionically initiated polychloral but is generally crumbly and incoherent. The end-groups of such polymers are usually hydroxyl endgroups. Identification of endgroups of the polymers has been done where possible by IR spectroscopy, for the initiation reaction by NMR spectroscopy, but for high molecular weight insoluble polymers almost exclusively by comparative thermal polymer degradation.     

Laccase‐Catalyzed Synthesis of Low‐Molecular‐Weight Lignin‐Like Oligomers and their Application as UV‐Blocking Materials

The laccase‐catalyzed oxidative polymerization of monomeric and dimeric lignin model compounds was carried out with oxygen as the oxidant in aqueous medium. The oligomers were characterized by using gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectroscopy (MALDI‐TOF MS) analysis. Oxidative polymerization led to the formation of oligomeric species with a number‐average molecular weight (M_n) that ranged from 700 to 2300 Da with a low polydispersity index. Spectroscopic analysis provided insight into the possible modes of linkages present in the oligomers, and the oligomerization is likely to proceed through the formation of C?C linkages between phenolic aromatic rings. The oligomers were found to show good UV light absorption characteristics with high molar extinction coefficient (5000–38 000 m ^?1 cm^?1) in the UV spectral region. The oligomers were blended independently with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) by using solution blending to evaluate the compatibility and UV protection ability of the oligomers. The UV/Vis transmittance spectra of the oligomer‐embedded PVC films indicated that these lignin‐like oligomers possessed a notable ability to block UV light. In particular, oligomers obtained from vanillyl alcohol and the dimeric lignin model were found to show good photostability in accelerated UV weathering experiments. The UV‐blocking characteristics and photostability were finally compared with the commercial low‐molecular‐weight UV stabilizer 2,4‐dihydroxybenzophenone.