Wood decay fungi (often distinguished as white rot and brown rot) belonging to the basidiomycetes, are common inhabitants of forest litter, where they play an important role in carbon cycling. Brown rot fungi are perhaps the most important organism involved in the degradation of wood products, and of considerable economic importance. Brown rotted wood loses strength very early because of the rapid depolymerisation of cellulose. Identification of specific genes and enzymes involved in conversion of lignocellulose is of growing interest not only in the field of wood preservation but also to bioenergy process development. To determine which proteins are being uniquely expressed during the decay process, proteomic profiles can be used to compare fungi growing on different carbon sources, for example untreated wood and modified wood. With a better understanding of the fungal decay mechanisms, wood protection processes and product properties could be further improved and the underlying mechanisms of inhibition or delay of biological degradation in modified wood could be revealed. The aim of this paper was to develop a straight forward method for protein extraction suitable for the filamentous fungus Postia placenta - with low health hazards. We conclude that so far, the most promising method with regard to simplicity and health issues, is a sodium chloride based extraction procedure followed by a precipitation based concentration with trichloroacetic acid (TCA). Another concentration protocol based on filtration is also looking very promising and will be further investigated.

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