Phanerochaete chrysosporium
A Microbial Biorealm page on the genus Phanerochaete chrysosporium
Classification
Higher order taxa
Eukaryota; Fungi/Metazoa group; Fungi; Dikarya; Basidiomycota; Agaricomycotina; Agaricomycetes; Agaricomycetes incertae sedis; Corticiales; Corticiaceae; Phanerochaete
Species
NCBI: Taxonomy |
Phanerochaete chrysosporium
Description and significance
Phanerochaete chrysosporium is called a white rot fungus for its specialized ability to degrade lignin, while leaving the white cellulose available for degradation by other organisms. Phanerochaete chrysosporium releases extracellular enzymes to break-up the complex three-dimensional structure of lignin into components that can be utilized by its metabolism. The extracellular enzymes are non-specific oxidizing agents (hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl radicals) used to cleave the lignin bonds. [3]
Phanerochaete chrysosporium is a crust fungi, which forms flat fused reproductive fruiting bodies instead of the mushroom structure. This fungi exhibit an interesting pattern of septate hyphae, giving a stronger line of defense in times of distress. The hyphae network has some branching, with diameters ranging from 3-9 µm. At the ends of the hyphae rests chlamydospores, thick-walled spores varying from 50-60 µm. The conidiophore gives rise to round asexual blastoconidia, which are 6-9 µm in diameter. [1,2]
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Genome structure
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Cell structure and metabolism
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Ecology
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Pathology
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Application to Biotechnology
Bioremediation
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Current Research
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References
1. Burdsall, H. (1985) Mycologia Memoir 10, 61-63. 2. Nakasone, K. (1990) Mycologia Memoir 15, 224-225. 3. Burdsall, H. (1974) Mycotaxon 1, 124.
Edited by student of Kate Scow