Ligninolytic enzymes of microorganisms particularly fungi belongs to Basidiomycota play a crucial role in the global carbon cycle. The demand for application of ligninolytic enzymes complexes of white-rot fungi in industry and biotechnology is ever increasing due to their use in a variety of processes. Ligninolytic enzymes have potential applications in a large number of fields, including the chemical, fuel, food, agricultural, paper, textile, cosmetic industrial sectors and more. This ligninolytic system of white-rot fungi is also directly involved in the degradation of various xenobiotic compounds and dyes. Their capacities to remove xenobiotic substances and produce polymeric products make them a useful tool for bioremediation purposes. This book experimentally explains the production, purification, characterization and dye decolorization ability of one of the ligninolytic enzymes i.e., Manganese peroxidases (EC 1.11.1.13; belong to the family of oxidoreductases) of Stereum ostrea, the false turkey tail fungus.

Biotechnological conversion of cellulosic biomass is potentially sustainable approach to develop novel bioprocesses and products. Microbial cellulases have become the focal biocatalysts due to their complex nature and wide spread industrial applications. In addition, cellulase production is the most important step in the economical production of ethanol, SCP and other chemicals from renewable cellulosic materials. To date, the production of cellulase has been widely studied in submerged culture processes, but the relatively high cost of enzyme production has hindered the industrial application of cellulose bioconversion. It has been reported that solid state fermentation is an attractive process to produce cellulase economically due to its lower capital investment and lower operating expenses. In this book, authors experimentally analyzed and illustrated the suitability of locally available cheap agro-residues as solid supports for the growth of A. niger in solid state fermentation for production of cellulolytic enzymes. In addition, a variety of leachate methods for maximum recovery of enzyme from the solid-state fermentation of bran were explained in this book.

Cellulases have enormous potential in industries and are used in food, beverages, textile, laundry, paper and pulp industries etc. Although a large number of microorganisms are capable of degrading cellulose, only a few of these microorganisms produce significant quantities of cell-free enzymes capable of completely hydrolysing crystalline cellulose in vitro. Fungi are the main cellulase-producing microorganisms, though a few bacteria and actinomycetes have also been recently reported to yield cellulase activity. Generally, fungi produces three major types of cellulolytic enzyme: endoglucanase, exoglucanase and B-glucosidase. These enzymes are extracellular and inductive in nature. The ability to produce cellulase are widespread among fungi and this has became the subject of extensive investigation. The research work explained in this book was intended to screen the cellulolytic ability of fungi isolated from soil contaminated with effluents of cotton ginning mills. Furthermore, optimal condition for enzyme production and purification were also explained in this book.