The degradation of aspen steryl esters and waxes by wood-inhabiting fungi

摘要

The high proportion of steryl esters and waxes in aspen is a major contributor to ptich deposition when aspen is pulped. Our objective is to assess whether a biological chip pretreatment system targeting aspen steryl esters/waxes is effective in controlling aspen pitch problems. Of the several fungi screended on aspen steryl esters/waxes, eight fungi were able to consume these carbon sources with some proficiency. The organisms that grewhydrolyzed the steryl ester bond to release a sterol and a fatty acid. Grwoth experiments with steryl esters/waxes supplemented with other carbon sources showed that a. luchuensis consumed simple sugars prior to metabilizing the steryl esters. wasxes. However, this fungus did not preferentially consume triglycerides over the steryl esters/waxes.