Increased enzymatic activities and levels of superoxide anion and phenolic compounds in cultures of basidiomycetes after temperature stress

Abstract

Selected strains of basidiomycetes (Abortiporus biennis, Trametes versicolor and Cerrena unicolor) were shown to produce enhanced extracellular peroxidase (EP), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and laccase activities following the exposure of 10-day-old fungal cultures to separate high and low temperature stress. The stressful conditions also caused an increase in the concentrations of phenol compounds and superoxide anion radicals in these cultures. At first, peroxidase activity was observed at 12 hours from the moment of temperature stress application. Laccase activity appeared at 96 hours after the maximum levels of superoxide anion radicals (48 h) and SOD activity (36–72 h). The concentration of phenolic substances grew steadily during the period of cultivation. These relations between laccase, SOD and EP as well as superoxide radicals and phenol levels in the environment of ligninolytic fungi seems to be important in the course of the biosynthesis or biodegradation of lignin, as the consequence of adaptation of these basidiomycetes to environmental temperature conditions.