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Title: Lignin-polysaccharide interactions in plant secondary cell walls revealed by solid-state NMR

Journal Article · · Nature Communications

Lignin is a complex aromatic biopolymer that strengthens and waterproofs plant secondary cell walls, enabling mechanical stability in trees and long-distance water transport in xylem. Lignin removal is a key step in paper production and biomass conversion to biofuels, motivating efforts to re-engineer lignin biosynthesis. However, the physical nature of lignin’s interactions with wall polysaccharides is not well understood. Here we show that lignin self-aggregates to form highly hydrophobic and dynamically unique nanodomains, with extensive surface contacts to xylan. Solid-state NMR spectroscopy of intact maize stems, supported by dynamic nuclear polarization, reveals that lignin has abundant electrostatic interactions with the polar motifs of xylan. Lignin preferentially binds xylans with 3-fold or distorted 2-fold helical screw conformations, indicative of xylans not closely associated with cellulose. These findings advance our knowledge of the molecular-level organization of lignocellulosic biomass, providing the structural foundation for optimization of post-harvest processing for biofuels and biomaterials.

Research Organization:
Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRC) (United States). Center for Lignocellulose Structure and Formation (CLSF); Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park, PA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES) (SC-22)
Grant/Contract Number:
SC0001090
OSTI ID:
1566610
Journal Information:
Nature Communications, Journal Name: Nature Communications Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 10; ISSN 2041-1723
Publisher:
Nature Publishing GroupCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Designing xylan for improved sustainable biofuel production journal July 2019
Structural Imaging of Native Cryo-Preserved Secondary Cell Walls Reveals the Presence of Macrofibrils and Their Formation Requires Normal Cellulose, Lignin and Xylan Biosynthesis. text January 2019
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Metabolomics: A Way Forward for Crop Improvement journal December 2019
A revised solid-state NMR method to assess the crystallinity of cellulose journal September 2019
Moisture-related changes in the nanostructure of woods studied with X-ray and neutron scattering journal October 2019
Structure, chemistry and physicochemistry of lignin for material functionalization journal August 2019
Molecular architecture of softwood revealed by solid-state NMR journal October 2019
Altered lignocellulose chemical structure and molecular assembly in CINNAMYL ALCOHOL DEHYDROGENASE-deficient rice journal November 2019
A critical review on the analysis of lignin carbohydrate bonds journal January 2019
Significant influence of lignin on axial elastic modulus of poplar wood at low microfibril angles under wet conditions journal April 2019
Designing xylan for improved sustainable biofuel production journal July 2019
Molecular architecture of softwood revealed by solid-state NMR. text January 2019
Molecular architecture of softwood revealed by solid-state NMR text January 2019
Effects of Moisture on Diffusion in Unmodified Wood Cell Walls: A Phenomenological Polymer Science Approach journal November 2019
Metabolomics: A Way Forward for Crop Improvement journal December 2019
Significant influence of lignin on axial elastic modulus of poplar wood at low microfibril angles under wet conditions text January 2019