Carbohydrolases and Oxidative Enzymes from Sclerotium rolfsii

The basidiomycete Sclerotium rolfsii was first described by Henry Rolfs almost 100 years ago as a plant pathogen causing tomato blight. S. rolfsii secretes oxidative, cellulolytic and hemicellulolytic enzymes in high amounts. Earlier investigations of these enzymes were related to pathogenesis while our studies on the fungus and the extracellular enzymes are related to biotechnological applications. These include both various processes in the pulp and paper, food and textile industry and in organic chemistry for the synthesis of oligosaccharides. This project focuses on the induction mechanisms of carbohydrolases (e.g. mannanase, polygalacturonase) and oxidases (e.g. laccases) from S. rolfsii and their specificities and synergisms on various natural and synthetic substrates.