Fatty acyl-coenzyme A oxidase activity and H2O2 production in Phanerochaete chrysosporium mycelia.

Mycelia of the lignin-degrading fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium consume O2 and produce extracellular H2O2 when incubated with fatty acyl-CoA substrates, even in the presence of mitochondrial respiratory chain inhibitors such as antimycin A and cyanide. These results suggest the possibility that peroxisomal fatty acyl-CoA oxidase activity in P. chrysosporium mycelia may be an important metabolic source for the extracellular H2O2 believed to be involved in lignin biodegradation.