Advances in microbial delignification.

Microbial delignification is a new field of applied research. The progress will therefore run parallel to the development of new basic knowledge on the physiological demands of white-rot fungi to degrade lignin and on new knowledge on enzyme mechanisms involved in lignin degradation. In the last few years both basic and applied research on microbial conversion of lignocellulosic materials have vastly expanded. In certain areas, such as microbial delignification, considerable progress has recently been made. Basidiospores from Sporotrichum pulverulentum and some CEL(-) mutants have been obtained. Crossing of mycelium from single basidiospore cultures of wild-type and CEL(-) mutants will eventually give rise to much better CEL(-) mutants than those which have been used in the past. An understanding of which enzymes are the most important for lignin degradation to take place is also beginning to develop. This review discusses present knowledge and future possibilities in this field.