Monolignol Ferulate Transferase Introduces Chemically Labile Linkages into the Lignin Backbone

Redesigning lignin, the aromatic polymer fortifying plant cell walls, to be more amenable to chemical depolymerization can lower the energy required for industrial processing. We have engineered poplar trees to introduce ester linkages into the lignin polymer backbone by augmenting the monomer pool...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 2014-04, Vol.344 (6179), p.90-93
Main Authors: Wilkerson, C. G., Mansfield, S. D., Lu, F., Withers, S., Park, J.-Y., Karlen, S. D., Gonzales-Vigil, E., Padmakshan, D., Unda, F., Rencoret, J., Ralph, J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acyltransferases - chemistry
Acyltransferases - genetics
Acyltransferases - isolation & purification
Alcohols
Angelica sinensis - enzymology
Angelica sinensis - genetics
Bioengineering
Biosynthesis
Cell Wall - chemistry
Cell Wall - metabolism
Cell walls
Coumaric Acids - metabolism
Enzymes
Functional groups
Genes, Plant
Industrial plants
Kinetics
Lignification
Lignin
Lignin - chemistry
Lignin - metabolism
Molecular Structure
Monomers
Plant biology
Plant Roots - enzymology
Plants, Genetically Modified - genetics
Plants, Genetically Modified - growth & development
Polymers
Populus - genetics
Populus - growth & development
Populus - metabolism
Structural Analysis (Linguistics)
Structural Analysis (Science)
Trees - genetics
Trees - metabolism
Vascular plants
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Summary:Redesigning lignin, the aromatic polymer fortifying plant cell walls, to be more amenable to chemical depolymerization can lower the energy required for industrial processing. We have engineered poplar trees to introduce ester linkages into the lignin polymer backbone by augmenting the monomer pool with monolignol ferulate conjugates. Herein, we describe the isolation of a transferase gene capable of forming these conjugates and its xylem-specific introduction into poplar. Enzyme kinetics, in planta expression, lignin structural analysis, and improved cell wall digestibility after mild alkaline pretreatment demonstrate that these trees produce the monolignol ferulate conjugates, export them to the wall, and use them during lignification. Tailoring plants to use such conjugates during cell wall biosynthesis is a promising way to produce plants that are designed for deconstruction.
ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.1250161