Genetic manipulation of ligninolytic streptomyces and generation of improved lignin-to-chemical bioconversion strains

Streptomyces viridosporus T7A, when used in solid-state fermentation, degrades lignin at high yields to a water-soluble modified polymer, acid precipitable polymeric lignin (APPL) that is useful as an antioxidant, surfactant, and potentially as a component of adhesives and resins. Enhanced strains generated from ultraviolet irradiation mutagenesis and protoplast fusion produced up to 90% more APPL from corn stover lignocellulose than did the wildtype, and they were stable and produced APPL at a faster rate and to a higher final yield than did parental strain T7A. APPLs produced by the wildtype and selected mutants were chemicaly similar polyphenols, but some catabolic enzymes of the genetically manipulated strains were produced in greater amounts.