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Title: Lignin Valorization: Two Hybrid Biochemical Routes for the Conversion of Polymeric Lignin into Value-added Chemicals

Journal Article · · Scientific Reports
 [1]; ORCiD logo [2];  [2];  [3];  [3];  [3];  [4]
  1. Sandia National Lab. (SNL-CA), Livermore, CA (United States). Dept. of Biomass Science & Conversion Technologies
  2. Sandia National Lab. (SNL-CA), Livermore, CA (United States). Dept. of Biomass Science & Conversion Technologies
  3. Joint BioEnergy Inst. (JBEI), Emeryville, CA (United States)
  4. Sandia National Lab. (SNL-CA), Livermore, CA (United States). Dept. of Biomass Science & Conversion Technologies; Joint BioEnergy Inst. (JBEI), Emeryville, CA (United States); Univ. of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN (United States). Dept. of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering

Naturally, many aerobic organisms degrade lignin-derived aromatics through conserved intermediates including protocatechuate and catechol. Employing this microbial approach offers a potential solution for valorizing lignin into valuable chemicals for a potential lignocellulosic biorefinery and enabling bioeconomy. In this study, two hybrid biochemical routes combining lignin chemical depolymerization, plant metabolic engineering, and synthetic pathway reconstruction were demonstrated for valorizing lignin into value-added products. In the biochemical route 1, alkali lignin was chemically depolymerized into vanillin and syringate as major products, which were further bio-converted into cis, cis-muconic acid (ccMA) and pyrogallol, respectively, using engineered Escherichia coli strains. In the second biochemical route, the shikimate pathway of Tobacco plant was engineered to accumulate protocatechuate (PCA) as a soluble intermediate compound. The PCA extracted from the engineered Tobacco was further converted into ccMA using the engineered E. coli strain. This study reports a direct process for converting lignin into ccMA and pyrogallol as value-added chemicals, and more importantly demonstrates benign methods for valorization of polymeric lignin that is inherently heterogeneous and recalcitrant. Our approach also validates the promising combination of plant engineering with microbial chassis development for the production of value added and speciality chemicals.

Research Organization:
Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC04-94AL85000
OSTI ID:
1624321
Journal Information:
Scientific Reports, Vol. 7, Issue 1; ISSN 2045-2322
Publisher:
Nature Publishing GroupCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 102 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Cited By (18)

Bioconversion of lignin and its derivatives into polyhydroxyalkanoates: Challenges and opportunities journal December 2018
Biotransformation of lignin: Mechanisms, applications and future work journal October 2019
Emerging tools, enabling technologies, and future opportunities for the bioproduction of aromatic chemicals: Emerging tools, enabling technologies, and future opportunities journal August 2018
Oxidative Depolymerisation of Lignosulphonate Lignin into Low-Molecular-Weight Products with Cu–Mn/δ-Al2O3 journal March 2019
Potential of Bacillus subtilis from marine environment to degrade aromatic hydrocarbons journal July 2019
Preparation and characterization of thermo-sensitive gel with phenolated alkali lignin journal September 2018
Bioprocess development for muconic acid production from aromatic compounds and lignin journal January 2018
Systematic parameterization of lignin for the CHARMM force field journal January 2019
Toward engineering E. coli with an autoregulatory system for lignin valorization journal March 2018
Hybrid phenolic-inducible promoters towards construction of self-inducible systems for microbial lignin valorization journal June 2018
Recent advances in lignin valorization with bacterial cultures: microorganisms, metabolic pathways, and bio-products journal February 2019
Internalization and accumulation of model lignin breakdown products in bacteria and fungi journal July 2019
Overexpression of the Sorghum bicolor SbCCoAOMT alters cell wall associated hydroxycinnamoyl groups journal October 2018
Study on the Effect of 1-Butanol Soluble Lignin on Temperature-Sensitive Gel journal October 2018
Alternatives for Chemical and Biochemical Lignin Valorization: Hot Topics from a Bibliometric Analysis of the Research Published During the 2000–2016 Period journal July 2018
Methyl ketone production by Pseudomonas putida is enhanced by plant‐derived amino acids journal April 2019
Isolation of a novel platform bacterium for lignin valorization and its application in glucose-free cis,cis-muconate production journal May 2019
From Tree to Tape: Direct Synthesis of Pressure Sensitive Adhesives from Depolymerized Raw Lignocellulosic Biomass journal May 2018

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