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Technological and biochemical features of lignin-degrading enzymes: a brief review

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Abstract

For many industries, the committed step during the treatment of lignocellulosic materials is the elimination of lignin. This recalcitrant material is commonly removed by many physical/chemical procedures that produce hazardous effluents that poison the environment, and usually the treatment of these effluents are cost-expensive. An eco-friendly alternative to the use of traditional treatments is the degradation of lignocellulosic materials using microorganisms or enzymes, mainly by the use of lignin-degrading enzymes. They are classified as lignin-modifying enzymes (ligninolytic enzymes that catalyze an oxidative cleavage of lignin) and lignin-degrading auxiliary enzymes. The lignin-modifying enzymes include phenol oxidases (such as laccases) and heme-peroxidases (lignin-peroxidases, manganese-peroxidases, versatile-peroxidases and, dye-decolorizing peroxidases), both classes of enzymes are members of the oxidase super-family. These enzymes have biochemical features that point them as excellent tools for being used in several industrial processes. They show a great versatility and can oxidize a wide range of organic and inorganic substrates, such as vanillyl alcohol, catechol, acetosyringone, syringic acid, and guaiacol, several dyes, phenolic and non-phenolic lignin model compounds. Their prospective applications include pulp and paper making, bio-refinery (biofuel), bioremediation and, textile, pharmaceutical and dermatological industries, among others. In this review, we summarize some of their biochemical features and potential industrial applications.

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Correspondence to Susana Castro-Sowinski.

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Cagide, C., Castro-Sowinski, S. Technological and biochemical features of lignin-degrading enzymes: a brief review. Environmental Sustainability 3, 371–389 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42398-020-00140-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42398-020-00140-y

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