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Lignin biochemistry: Biosynthesis and biodegradation

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Summary

Lignin biosynthesis via shikimate-cinnamate pathways in plants, and the biosynthetic differences of guaiacyl-and syringyl lignins between gymnosperms and angiosperms have been elucidated by tracer experiments using 14C labeled precursors and the following enzyme reactions. The formation of guaiacyl lignin but not syringyl lignin in gymnosperms was attributed to the following factors; absence of ferulate-5-hydroxylase, poor affinity of O-methyltransferase toward 5-hydroxyferulate, and lack of activation and/or reduction of sinapatc. A mechanism of lignin-carbohydrate complexes formation in wood cell walls was elucidated based on the reaction of the quinone methide of guaiacylglycerol-β-guaiacyl ether with sugars, and the analysis of DHP-polysaccharide complexes.

The main cleavage mechanisms of side chains and aromatic rings of lignin model compounds and synthetic lignin (DHP) by white-rot fungi and their enzymes, lignin peroxidase and laccase have been elucidated using 2H, 13C and 18O-labeled lignin substructure dimcrs with 18O2 and H2 18O. Side chains and aromatic rings of these substrates were cleaved via aryl cation radical and phenoxy radical intermediates, in reaction mediated only by lignin peroxidase/H2O2 and laccase/O2.

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  1. Wood Research Institute Kyoto University, Uji, 611, Kyoto, Japan

    T. Higuchi

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Academy Lecture presented at the Cellucon 88 in Japan, International Symposium on New Functionalisation Developments in Cellulosics and Wood, held in Kyoto, Japan, November 28 to December 1, 1988

This paper is a conclusion of our investigations on the biosynthesis and microbial degradation of lignin for 30 years in the Research Section of Lignin Chemistry, Wood Research Institute, Kyoto University. The author is greatly indebted to Drs. M. Shimada, F. Nakatsubo, T. Yamasaki, H. Ohashi, M. Tanahashi, Y. Nakamura, H. Kuroda, H. Kutsuki, T. Katayama, Y. Kamaya, T. Umezawa and Messrs. H. Fushiki, M. Ohta, A. Noguchi, H. Namba, T. Habe, S. Kawai, S. Yokota, and T. Hattori for their kind cooperation in these investigations. These invstigations were supported in part by Grant-in-Aid Nos. 548047, 57480058, 59760124, 60760130, 60440015, 61760142, 61560193, 62790250 for Scientific Research, and 1980 Grant-in-Aid for Environmental Science (R-33-8), No. 403064 from the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture of Japan, and a 1980 Weyerhaeuser grant

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Higuchi, T. Lignin biochemistry: Biosynthesis and biodegradation. Wood Sci.Technol. 24, 23–63 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00225306

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