Biodegradation of soil humic acids by Streptomyces viridosporus ATCC 39115 growing in a mineral salts – glucose medium was demonstrated. This biodegradation accompanies bacterial growth and is, therefore, presumed to be a primary metabolic activity, but humic acids were not used as the sole source of carbon. This bacterial activity was enhanced when cells were shaken and within a pH range of 6.5–8.5. In further experiments, the relative abilities of S. viridosporus to mineralize [14C]melanoidin, used as synthetic humic acid, were also established. In contrast to the white rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium, another microorganism exhibiting humic acid degrading activity at acidic pH, poor extracellular activities were found in culture medium of S. viridosporus, and veratryl alcohol does not result in increased humic acid degradation. In spite of some peroxidase activity measured in culture filtrates and analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, the humic acid degrading system of S. viridosporus, in these experimental conditions, seems to be cell associated. Key words: humic acid biodegradation, melanoidin mineralization, Streptomyces viridosporus, cell-bound humic acids.