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Title: Critical Enzyme Reactions in Aromatic Catabolism for Microbial Lignin Conversion

Journal Article · · Nature Catalysis

The application of microbes to valorize aromatic compounds derived from the abundant plant biopolymer lignin is a rapidly developing area of research that may ultimately enable viable conversion of this recalcitrant and heterogeneous resource to valuable bio-based chemical products. Starting from the three canonical lignin building blocks, which differ in the extent of aromatic ring methoxylation, several common classes of enzymatic reaction occur in the upper pathways of aromatic catabolism to prepare aromatic compounds for assimilation into central carbon metabolism, including aromatic O-demethylation, hydroxylation and decarboxylation. These critical enzymatic steps can often be rate-limiting for efficient biological funnelling of aromatic compounds. Here we review the known enzymatic mechanisms for these reactions that are relevant for aerobic aromatic catabolism of lignin-related monomers, highlighting opportunities at the intersection of biochemistry, enzyme engineering and metabolic engineering for applications in the expanding field of microbial lignin valorization.

Research Organization:
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER); USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Sustainable Transportation Office. Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO)
DOE Contract Number:
AC36-08GO28308
OSTI ID:
1855381
Report Number(s):
NREL/JA-2A00-80238; MainId:42441; UUID:6dc24f5d-e5e2-4a21-8867-0f22f4531aba; MainAdminID:64041
Journal Information:
Nature Catalysis, Vol. 5
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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