Effect of phenolic compounds on cellulose degradation by some white rot basidiomycetes

Cellulose degradation by several white rot fungi was investigated. In most fungi cellulase production was stimulated by lignin-related phenolics. Detailed investigation of Trametes versicolor showed that this stimulation was not directly effected by phenols but was due to an indirect induction. The phenol was oxidized by laccase to quinone. The quinone was then reduced by the enzyme cellobiose: quinone-oxidoreductase while cellobiono-lactone was responsible for the increased cellulase production in submerged cultures with cellulose as the sole carbon source. (IGB)