Elucidation of ligninolysis mechanism of a newly isolated white-rot basidiomycete Trametes hirsuta X-13

BACKGROUND: Lignin is a complex aromatic heteropolymer comprising 15–30% dry weight of the lignocellulose. The complex structural characteristic of lignin renders it difficult for value-added utilization. Exploring efficient lignin-degrading microorganisms and investigating their lignin-degradation mechanisms would be beneficial for promoting lignin valorization. In this study, a newly isolated white-rot basidiomycete, Trametes hirsuta X-13, with capacity to utilize alkaline lignin as the sole substrate was investigated. RESULTS: The analysis of the fermentation properties of T. hirsuta X-13 using alkaline lignin as the sole substrate, including the mycelial growth, activities of ligninolytic enzymes and the rates of lignin degradation and decolorization confirmed its great ligninolysis capacity. The maximum lignin degradation rate reached 39.8% after 11 days of T. hirsuta X-13 treatment, which was higher than that of reported fungi under the same condition. Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR), gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) scanning electron micrographs (SEM), two-dimensional heteronuclear single quantum coherence NMR analysis (2D-HSQC NMR) collaborated with pyrolysis gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (py-GC/MS) analyses proved that lignin structure was severely deconstructed along with amounts of monomer aromatics generated. Furthermore, according to those chemical analysis, in addition to canonical C(α)–C(β) breakage, the cleavage of lignin interunit linkages of β–β might also occur by T. hirsuta X-13. CONCLUSIONS: This study characterized a newly isolated white-rot basidiomycete T. hirsuta X-13 with impressive alkaline lignin degradation ability and provided mechanistic insight into its ligninolysis mechanism, which will be valuable for the development of lignin valorization strategies. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13068-021-02040-7.