Metabolism of low molecular weight lignin-related compounds by Streptomycetes viridosporus T7A

Abstract

The ability of the ligninolytic actinomycete Streptomyces viridosporus T7A to degrade selected lignin model compounds, both in the presence and in the absence of lignocellulose, was examined. Compounds studied included benzyl alcohols and aldehydes, plus dimers possessing intermonomeric linkages, which are characteristic of the lignin macromolecule. Oxidation of veratryl alcohol to the corresponding acid was significant only under ligninolytic growth conditions, i.e., in medium containing lignocellulose, while other benzyl alcohols and aldehydes were raedily oxidized in its absence. S. viridosporus T7A reduces carbonylic groups of 1,2-diarylethane, but not 1,2-diarylpropane structures, under both ligninolytic and non-ligninolytic culture conditions. Cleavage of 1.2-diarylpropane (β-1), arylglycerol-β-arylather (β--0-4) and biphenyl structures by this strain could not be detected under either metabolic conditions.