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A secretomic view of woody and nonwoody lignocellulose degradation by Pleurotus ostreatus

Summary

This research examined how oyster mushrooms break down wood and plant materials by studying the enzymes they produce. The findings help us understand how fungi naturally decompose plant waste and could lead to improved industrial applications. Key impacts on everyday life include: • Development of more efficient and environmentally friendly methods for producing paper and biofuels • Better understanding of natural recycling processes in forest ecosystems • Potential applications in breaking down agricultural waste into useful products • Improved cultivation methods for edible mushrooms • New approaches for developing bio-based alternatives to petrochemical products

Background

Pleurotus ostreatus is the second most produced edible mushroom worldwide and serves as a model fungus for delignification applications due to its ability to grow on both woody and nonwoody feedstocks. Its sequenced genome provides an opportunity to study the enzymes involved in lignocellulose degradation through proteomic analysis.

Objective

To identify and analyze the enzymes secreted by P. ostreatus when growing on poplar wood and wheat straw compared to glucose medium, with focus on understanding the mechanisms of lignocellulose modification.

Results

Over 500 proteins were identified across the three growth conditions. Oxidoreductases were the main protein type in both poplar (39%) and straw (31%) secretomes, while carbohydrate-active enzymes were only slightly overproduced (14-16%). Laccase 10 was the most abundant protein in lignocellulose cultures (10-14%). Several other laccases, versatile peroxidases, and manganese peroxidases were also strongly overproduced on lignocellulose. Analysis of treated substrates showed preferential removal of lignin versus carbohydrates and modifications to lignin structure.

Conclusion

P. ostreatus strongly overproduces lignin-modifying enzymes, particularly laccases and peroxidases, when growing on woody and nonwoody lignocellulosic substrates compared to glucose medium. This enzyme production correlates with preferential lignin removal and structural modifications observed in the lignocellulose substrates. The results provide insights into the enzymatic mechanisms used by this fungus for lignocellulose degradation.
  • Published in:Biotechnology for Biofuels,
  • Study Type:Laboratory Research,
  • Source: 10.1186/s13068-016-0462-9
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