Nucleotide sequence of a ligninase gene from Phanerochaete chrysosporium.

Lignin biodegradation is catalyzed in part by ligninases, also known as lignin peroxidases (1-4). We have cloned and sequenced the gene encoding ligninase isozyme H8 from the white-rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium. The gene is interrupted by eight introns, ranging in size from 49 to 69 bp, which are distributed throughout the gene. Putative transcriptional control signals (underlined) include a CAAT at position -110 and a TATA box at -81 relative to the translational initiation codon. The nucleotide sequence of the coding region is identical to the cDNA sequence published previously (5), except for a GC at positions 591-592 instead of CG, resulting in an Arg to Ala substitution.