Laccase Immunolabelling and Microanalytical Analysis of Wood Degraded byLentinus edodes

Abstract

Laccase has been studied recently in both pure enzymatic, and 'enzyme plus mediator' systems described for the degradation of lignin in wood and pulp. In this study we use TEM immunolabelling probes to label the laccase enzyme and determine where the enzyme is located during wood degradation by Lentinus edodes. Wood degraded by L. edodes was also observed using two-dimensional ultraviolet analysis to determine the extent of lignin degradation, and the relationship between lignin degradation and enzymatic action. Despite extensive degradation of lignin in the wood cell wall and cell corner region of the wood, no penetration of the laccase enzyme into the wood cell wall was observed during the first eight weeks of fungal attack. Degradation of the lignin fraction of the wood cell wall by compounds of lower molecular weight than enzymes is implicated by this work.