The objectives of this research are to characterize the lignin-degrading enzymes of streptomyces viridosporus T7A and streptomyces badius 252 which are involved in the initial generation of the acid precipitable polymeric lignins (APPL) intermediate. APPLs have the potential of being industrial chemical feedstocks and specialty materials, e.g., as an antioxidant in foods. Objectives include: determination of the cellular and/or extracellullar location of each enzymatic component of the B-etherase complex, and continued examination of cultures for new extracellular ligninases; characterization of the involvement of an extracellular phenol oxidase, laccose, in initial oxidation of lignin; isolation of each enzyme of the B-etherase complex and the characterization of its mechanism of action using lignin substructure models as substrates; and determination of the action of each enzyme and of entire B-etherase complex on native polymeric lignin.
