ABSTRACT
In this chapter we focus on a review of previous work which supports the hypothesis of the role of phenolate chelating compounds produced by brown-rot wood decay fungi in generating reactive oxygen species to initiate wood deterioration. The role of these chelating compounds in the degradative process and their interaction with other metabolites and metals is explored. This chapter begins with a brief review of brownrot degradative processes and the production of reactive oxygen species, the availability of transition metals in the environment, and the production of chelators by microorganisms. We then progress into a review of research which has been conducted specifically on chelators isolated from the brown-rot fungus Gloeophyllum trabeum, and how these compounds may potentially be employed in processes adapted to industrial biotechnology.
