ABSTRACT
The mode of degradation of most natural polymers by microorgnisms is hydrolytic. This chapter describes the isolation of microorganisms capable of growing on dehydrogenative polymerizate (DHP) as the sole source of carbon and the degradation process of DHP and lignin- related aromatic compounds by isolated miroorganisms. Aerobic degradation of the radioactive DHP varied greatly with the type of materials employed. W. F. Hackett et al. reported the lignin degradation in a variety of natural materials using synthetic 14C-lignin labeled in the side chains, aromatic ring, or methoxyl groups. Experiments have been performed to clarify the changes in molecular weight distribution of DHP caused by isolated microorganisms. Good growth of Fusarium spp. on the medium containing DHP as a sole source of carbon was observed. In connection with the elucidation of the metabolic pathway of lignin degradation, biological conversion of compounds structurally related to lignin has been investigated by several authors.
