Ethylene production from alpha-oxo-gamma-methylthiobutyric acid is a sensitive measure of ligninolytic activity by Phanerochaete chrysosporium.

Production of hydroxyl radical in ligninolytic cultures was determined by measuring the alpha-oxo-gamma-methylthiobutyric acid-dependent production of ethylene gas. The results showed that the pattern of ethylene production was very similar to that of ligninolytic activity [[14C]lignin leads to 14CO2). Furthermore, nutritional parameters, which are known to affect ligninolytic activity, affected OH.-radical-dependent ethylene production in a similar fashion. The results indicate that assay for ethylene production from alpha-oxo-gamma-methylthiobutyric acid is a simple and sensitive measure of ligninolytic activity by Phanerochaete chrysosporium.