Effect of nutrient nitrogen and manganese on manganese peroxidase and laccase production byLentinula (Lentinus) edodes

Lentinula (Lentinus) edodes, strain LS4, produces manganese-dependent peroxidase (MnP) and laccase, but not lignin peroxidase, when grown on a defined medium with glucose as sole carbon source. MnP production is suppressed by nitrogen whereas highest levels of laccase were observed when the fungus was grown under high nitrogen (26 mM) conditions. Both the titre and time of appearance of MnP were affected by the concentration of Mn in the culture medium with highest enzyme levels recorded in cultures supplemented with 1.1 ppm Mn. Purified MnP from L. edodes LS4 has an apparent Mr of 59000 and a pI of 5.6, and differs in several respects from a MnP isolated from L. edodes grown on a commercial wood substrate.