• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.27-32
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• 1995

To understand whether ligninolytic enzyme catalyze polymerization or depolymerization of the high molecular weight (HMW) lignin, the action of laccase and Mn-peroxidase (MnP) towards commercial ligninsulfonates (LS) was examined in various conditions of pH and cosubstrates. Polymerization occurred when LS was incubated with laccase at pH 6.0. In contrast, the high molecular weight portions were significant1y reduced at pH 4.5, especially when glucose was added. When LS was treated with MnP at pH 4.5, compounds of low molecular weight were produced. In particular, when cellobiose was added to Mn-P reaction mixture, the breakdown of LS was observed. In conclusion, degradation of LS by laccase and MnP occurred primarily at pH 4.5 where-as polymerization of LS was dominant at pH 6.0. Color index, however, was not greatly changed in the degradation mixtures of LS.