Analytical techniques for monitoring the biological and chemical activity of brown rot fungul metabolites (2)
Published: 2007
Publication Name: Manual of Environmental Microbiology, 3rd Edition
Publication URL: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1128/9781555815882.ch91
Abstract:
This chapter provides an overview of selected techniques that are used to detect, quantify, and evaluate the activity of low-molecular-weight metabolites produced by the brown rot fungi. The role of low-molecular-weight fungal metabolites in the brown rot decay process and their potential use in bioremediation and industrial processes are also briefly considered. The chapter also talks about the techniques used in the purification, quantification, and characterization of selected types of low-molecular-weight metabolites produced by brown rot fungi. Detection of hydroxyl radicals is limited by their extremely short half-life and high level of chemical activity. The chapter talks about selected methods that have been used in the characterization of wood or lignocellulose colonized by brown rot fungi or treated with isolated fungal metabolites. These include cellulose chain length determination, X-ray analysis, molecular beam mass spectroscopy (MBMS) and near infrared spectroscopy (NIR) evaluation of complex substrates, and 13 C thermochemolysis characterization of lignin modification. Bioremediation applications are particularly intriguing because of the demonstrated ability of brown rot fungi to ramify through soil and colonize wood and other substrates in the natural environment. The ability to characterize the underlying nonenzymatic microbial processes utilized by the brown rot fungi will contribute to our ability to both control and utilize these unique degradative organisms in a better manner.