Detection of the genes encoding lignin and manganese peroxidases from white rot fungi

White rot fungi produce lignolytic enzymes to depolymerize lignin when they degrade wood. Among them, heme peroxidases such as manganese peroxidase (MnP) and lignin peroxidase (LiP) have been considered to play an important role in lignin degradation. In the present study, the technique that permits a specific amplification of the genes encoding MnP and LiP by polymerase-chain reaction (PCR) was developed to detect the white rot fungi having these genes. As a result, the genes encoding MnP and LiP from white rot fungi including Trametes versicolor, Pycnoporus cinnabarinus, Pycnoporus coccineus, and Irpex lacteus were detected using newly-designed primers (MnP_F1 and MnP_R1). Moreover, various peroxidase genes were also detected when DNAs prepared from decayed woods were used as a template. The genes encoding MnP and LiP were remarkably separated when PCR products were applied for denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis. The results clearly indicate that the technique is useful when naturally-occurring decayed wood containing various gene resources encoding MnP and LiP was used as a subject of research.