Industrial applications of Phanerochaete chrysosporium lignin-degrading enzymes: current status, production challenges, and future directions.

Abstract

Phanerochaete chrysosporium (Pc) is a white-rot fungus recognized for its highly efficient lignin-degrading enzymes (LDEs), including lignin peroxidase (LiP), manganese peroxidase (MnP), and laccase. These oxidative enzymes possess transformative capabilities across multiple industrial applications, such as biopulping, biofuel production, bioremediation and for the treatment of industrial wastewater. However, the commercial use of these enzymes is limited due to time-consuming scale-up procedures in native hosts, instability in industrial environments, and high production costs. The recent developments in recombinant expression systems, particularly those employing microbial and plant platforms provide promising opportunities to enhance enzyme yield, stability, and reduce the cost. Despite these advancements, significant challenges remain, which include the formation of inclusion bodies, the need for nutrient and co-factor supplementation, and the development of effective purification strategies. Modern advancements in protein engineering, such as site-directed mutation and in silico approaches, may hold significant promise in addressing the challenges posed by pH optimization, which is prominent in wild-type enzymes. This review examines the current industrial applications of P. chrysosporium ligninolytic enzymes, highlights production bottlenecks in several hosts, and discusses the strategies to enhance their commercial viability of these enzymes.