Determination of lignin-modifying enzymes (LMEs) in Hyphodermella species using biochemical and molecular techniques

White-rot basidiomycetes are one of the most important lignolytic microorganisms. These fungi have been reported to secrete three main classes of lignin degrading enzymes: lignin peroxidases (LiPs), manganese peroxidases (MnPs) and laccases. In this study, for the first time the lignin degrading capability of two plant pathogens i.e. Hyphodermella rosae and H. corrugata was evaluated using both biochemical and molecular methods. Biochemical analyses included tannic acid, azur-B clearance, 2, 2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS), α-naphthol and Syringaldazine test. Genes encoding for each enzyme were amplified using two pairs of degenerate primers. In the case of MnP, the primers from the previous studies failed to amplify the gene for Hyphodermella as well as control species, hence new primers were designed. The results from biochemical and molecular analyses confirmed the potential of both the Hyphodermella species to produce LiPs and MnPs, whereas  they tested negative in terms of laccase production. Similar to the model white-rot fungus, Phanerochaete chrysosporium,laccase production may not be required for lignin decomposition by the Hyphodermella species treated in this study.