Strategies for improved lignin peroxidase production in agitated pellet cultures ofPhanerochaete chrysosporiumand the use of a novel inducer

The production of extracellular H2O2-dependent lignin peroxidase by the basidiomycete Phanerochaete chrysosporium in agitated submerged cultures was improved by the addition of a novel inducer and by a particular agitation and temperature program. The combination of an exact shift of agitation rate from higher to lower speed after the onset of secondary metabolism, the simultaneous decrease of the incubation temperature from 39 to 25°C and the supply of appropriate concentrations of dimethoxybenzylamine instead of veratryl alcohol resulted in a 5-fold increase in enzyme production compared to control experiments. With this method, lignin peroxidase activities at a maximum of 1312 U 1−1 were obtained usign glycerol as sole carbon source and nitrogen-limited media.