The substantial potential applications of lignin-degrading microbes and enzymes have spurred research on lignin biodegradation in recent years. As described here, that research has led to the discovery in the basidiomycete Phanerochaete chrysosporium of the first lignin-degrading enzymes and elucidation of their mode of action. A family of powerful extracellular peroxidase isoenzymes has been t...

The present paper has examined the degrading ability of phenol-oxidizing bacterium, Ralstonia eutropha, for biological removal of methylene blue (MB) from aqueous solutions under aerobic conditions. Results show that MB has been extensively eliminated as a co-metabolism in the presence of supplementary carbon (glucose) and nitrogen (yeast extract and peptone) sources and the experimental observ...

Gel-filtration chromatography of culture medium from rabbit bone explants separates three latent metalloproteinases with activities against collagen, proteoglycan and gelatin respectively. The fractions degrading proteoglycan also degrade laminin, fibronectin and the polymeric products of pepsin-solubilized type IV collagen and can also solubilize insoluble type IV collagen. The fractions degra...

entomopathogenic fungi produce a variety of degrading enzymes, including proteases, chitinases and lipases, to facilitate their entry through the massive barriers of insect cuticle. isolates of the entomopathogenic fungi vary considerably in their proteolytic activity and virulence. the proteolytic activity of different isolates has been hypothesized to reflect their virulence toward the host. ...

Self-exploding microparticles show potential for advanced delivery of certain therapeutics. This study evaluates (1) whether degrading biodegradable dextran hydroxyethyl methacrylate (dex-HEMA) microgels can be coated by a lipid membrane and (2) whether the surrounding membrane can be ruptured by the increasing swelling pressure of the degrading microgel. We found that adsorption of charged lip...

A novel Nostoc commune-polysaccharide (NPS)-degrading enzyme with a molecular mass of 128.5 kDa was purified from Paenibacillus glycanilyticus DS-1. The optimum pH and temperature of the enzyme activity were 5.5 and 35 degrees C, respectively. The enzyme completely degraded NPS to oligosaccharides, ranging from tetra to hexasaccharides and could degrade the xylan weakly whereas xanthan, gellan,...

Although plastic is ubiquitous in marine systems, our current knowledge of its transport limited. Recent studies suggest size-selective removal small particles (<5 mm) from the ocean surface as a result formation biofilm (the “plastisphere”) on microplastic particle (MP) surface. This localized microenvironment can isolate microcosm adjacent aqueous medium, and thus protect component alien s...