The ability of the yeast, Sporobolomyces roseus, isolated from leafy material, to modify lignin derived from beechwood pulping was examined by FTIR and C-13 NMR spectroscopy, which revealed oxidative cleavage of the C-alpha-C-beta linkages between lignin units. Using veratryl alcohol as a model substrate confirmed that Sp. roseus could oxidize veratryl alcohol into veratric acid. This yeast might be suitable for the pretreatment of lignocellulosic materials and/or for biotransformation of technical lignins.