Prof. Dr. Gabriele Diekert
Interaction of aerobic fungi and anaerobic bacteria in the degradation of lignin and chlorinated compounds

Abstract:
White-rot fungi such as Agrocybe aegerita are able to degrade lignin by means of different peroxidases. A. aegerita also has an extracellular haloperoxidase, which halogenates lignin components. Several strictly anaerobic bacteria belonging to the genus Desulfitobacterium are able to reductively dechlorinate chlorinated aromatic or aliphatic compounds. At least some of them are also capable to demethylate phenyl methyl ethers, which are components and degradation products of lignin. Aim of the studies is to elucidate the interaction between the aerobic fungus and the anaerobic bacterium in the formation and degradation of chlorinated compounds and lignin components.

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