hemicellulose that are white in color (Garg and Chandel 2012; Kamei et al. 2012).
On the contrary, the rate of degradation of lignin and cellulose is relative which can
vary based on the fungal species, degradation condition, and wood types (Schwarze
2004). White rot fungi are subdivided into two types based on the degradation time
of lignin which are selective delignification and simultaneous rot.
Since last three decades, fungi have been investigated for the degradation of
broad spectrum organic contaminants. They were also exploited for the degradation
of organic contaminants, including dyes, PAHs, TNT, pesticides, PCBs, chlorinated
hydrocarbons, and other toxic organic compounds (Gupte et al. 2016; Patel et al.
2016; Gahlout et al. 2017; Shankar and Nill 2015; Khambhaty et al. 2015). Fungi are
efficient remediation agent of organic contaminants than bacteria due to the efficient
extracellular nonspecific ligninolytic enzyme system, which can degrade various
hazardous contaminants (Christian et al. 2005). In addition, some white rot fungi and
their enzymes are utilized to synthesize the bioactive compounds, which have
potential anticancer, anti-HIV, antimicrobial, and antifungal activities (Mikolasch
and Schauer 2009; Kudanga et al. 2017).
7.2 Fungal Components
7.2.1 Enzymes
White rot fungi secrete a wide array of enzymes in order for the degradation of
lignocellulosic biomass, which comprise the ligninolytic, hydrolytic, and accessory
enzymes.
7.2.1.1 Lignin Degrading Enzymes
White rot fungi produce various ligninolytic enzymes in large amounts which secrete
externally. The enzymes are laccase, lignin peroxidase, Mn peroxidase, and versatile
peroxidase (Li et al. 2018). The role of these enzymes in fungi is presented in
Table 7.1.
7.2.1.2 Laccase
Laccases are benzenediol:oxygen oxidoreductases (EC 1.10.3.2) and these enzyme
belongs to the of multicopper oxidases and blue oxidases (Rudakiya et al. 2020). It
was first discovered in the Japanese lacquer tree Rhus vernicifera. Thereafter, laccase
has been found in various plant species, insects, bacteria, and fungi (Rudakiya and
Gupte 2019b). Fungi belonging from basidiomycete phylum are the most efficient
laccase producers, some of the fungi are as follows: Coriolopsis polyzona, Trametes
188
D. M. Rudakiya et al.
On the contrary, the rate of degradation of lignin and cellulose is relative which can
vary based on the fungal species, degradation condition, and wood types (Schwarze
2004). White rot fungi are subdivided into two types based on the degradation time
of lignin which are selective delignification and simultaneous rot.
Since last three decades, fungi have been investigated for the degradation of
broad spectrum organic contaminants. They were also exploited for the degradation
of organic contaminants, including dyes, PAHs, TNT, pesticides, PCBs, chlorinated
hydrocarbons, and other toxic organic compounds (Gupte et al. 2016; Patel et al.
2016; Gahlout et al. 2017; Shankar and Nill 2015; Khambhaty et al. 2015). Fungi are
efficient remediation agent of organic contaminants than bacteria due to the efficient
extracellular nonspecific ligninolytic enzyme system, which can degrade various
hazardous contaminants (Christian et al. 2005). In addition, some white rot fungi and
their enzymes are utilized to synthesize the bioactive compounds, which have
potential anticancer, anti-HIV, antimicrobial, and antifungal activities (Mikolasch
and Schauer 2009; Kudanga et al. 2017).
7.2 Fungal Components
7.2.1 Enzymes
White rot fungi secrete a wide array of enzymes in order for the degradation of
lignocellulosic biomass, which comprise the ligninolytic, hydrolytic, and accessory
enzymes.
7.2.1.1 Lignin Degrading Enzymes
White rot fungi produce various ligninolytic enzymes in large amounts which secrete
externally. The enzymes are laccase, lignin peroxidase, Mn peroxidase, and versatile
peroxidase (Li et al. 2018). The role of these enzymes in fungi is presented in
Table 7.1.
7.2.1.2 Laccase
Laccases are benzenediol:oxygen oxidoreductases (EC 1.10.3.2) and these enzyme
belongs to the of multicopper oxidases and blue oxidases (Rudakiya et al. 2020). It
was first discovered in the Japanese lacquer tree Rhus vernicifera. Thereafter, laccase
has been found in various plant species, insects, bacteria, and fungi (Rudakiya and
Gupte 2019b). Fungi belonging from basidiomycete phylum are the most efficient
laccase producers, some of the fungi are as follows: Coriolopsis polyzona, Trametes
188
D. M. Rudakiya et al.