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Title: Syringyl lignin production in conifers: Proof of concept in a Pine tracheary element system

Journal Article · · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
 [1];  [2];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [2];  [2]
  1. Biotransformation Department, Scion, 3020, Rotorua 3010, New Zealand,
  2. Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, and, US Department of Energy's Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, The Wisconsin Energy Institute, Madison, WI 53726
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Conifers (softwoods) naturally lack syringyl units in their lignins, rendering lignocellulosic materials from such species more difficult to process than syringyl-rich hardwood species. Using a transformable Pinus radiata tracheary element (TE) system as an experimental platform, we investigated whether metabolic engineering can be used to create syringyl lignin in conifers. Pyrolysis-GC/MS and 2D-NMR analysis of P. radiata TE cultures transformed to express ferulate 5-hydroxylase (F5H) and caffeic acid O-methyltransferase (COMT) from Liquidambar styraciflua confirmed the production and incorporation of sinapyl alcohol into the lignin polymer. Transformation with F5H was sufficient for the production of syringyl lignin in TEs, but cotransformation with COMT improved its formation. In addition, lower levels of the pathway intermediate 5-hydroxyconiferyl alcohol were evidenced in cotransformation experiments, indicating that the introduction of the COMT overcame the inefficiency of the native pine methyltransferases for supporting sinapyl alcohol production. In conclusion, our results provide the proof of concept that it is possible to generate a lignin polymer that contains syringyl units in softwood species such as P. radiata, suggesting that it might be possible to retain the outstanding fiber properties of softwoods while imbuing them with the lignin characteristics of hardwoods that are more favorable for industrial processing.

Research Organization:
Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, WI (United States); Scion, Rotorua (New Zealand)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER); Ministry for Business Innovation and Employment (New Zealand)
Contributing Organization:
The Wisconsin Energy Inst., Madison, WI (United States)
Grant/Contract Number:
FC02-07ER64494
OSTI ID:
1235162
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1348357
Journal Information:
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Journal Name: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America Vol. 112 Journal Issue: 19; ISSN 0027-8424
Publisher:
Proceedings of the National Academy of SciencesCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 77 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
softwood
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pulping
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