SELECTION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF HYPERLIGNINOLYTIC MUTANTS

THERE IS WIDE-SPREAD INTEREST IN USING PHANEROCHAETE CHRYSOSPORIUM, A LIGNIN-DEGRADING FUNGUS AND ITS ENZYMES (LIGNINASES) FOR BIOPULPING, DEGRADATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL (INCLUDING LIGNIN-DERIVED) WASTE, AND CONVERTING LIGNIN TO USEFUL CHEMICAL FEEDSTOCK. TWO MAJOR DRAWBACKS IN USING P. CHRYSOSPORIUM IS ITS LOW RATE OF BIODEGRADATION AND THE LOW PRODUCTION OF LIGNINASES; THIS IS DUE IN PART, TO THE FACT THAT P. CHRYSOSPORIUM IS LIGNINOLYTIC ONLY UNDER NUTRIENT-LIMITING CONDITIONS. THE PROPOSED RESEARCH IS AIMED AT OVERCOMING THESE LIMITATIONS BY ISOLATING MUTANTS THAT ARE LIGNINOLYTIC UNDER NUTRIENT-RICH CONDITIONS. THE MUTANTS WILL BE ISOLATED BY A NOVEL SELECTION PROCEDURE WHICH WE HAVE SUCCESSFULLY DEVELOPED. THE MUTANTS WILL BE CHARACTERIZED FOR THEIR ABILITY TO OVERPRODUCE LIGNINASES, BIOPULP, AND DEGRADE ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTANTS.