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Lignin Down-regulation of Zea mays via dsRNAi and Klason Lignin Analysis
Published on: July 23, 2014
Isolation of structurally distinct lignin-carbohydrate fractions from maize stem by sequential alkaline extractions
Mika Henrikki Sipponen1, Catherine Lapierre, Valérie Méchin
1Aalto University, School of Chemical Technology, Department of Biotechnology and Chemical Technology, Espoo, Finland. mika.sipponen@aalto.fi
Abstract:
Sequential fractionation of extractive-free maize stems was carried out using two mild alkaline extractions (0.5 and 2 M NaOH, 20°C, 24h) before and after endoglucanase treatment. This procedure provided two lignin-carbohydrate fractions (LC1 and LC2) recovered after each alkali treatment. LC1 and LC2 contained 39% and 8% of the total lignin amount, respectively. These two fractions contained structurally distinct lignin molecules. While the content of resistant interunit bonds in lignin was 77% in LC1, it was increased up to 98% in LC2. Not unexpectedly, both alkali-soluble fractions contained substantial amount of p-coumaric and ferulic acids ether-linked to lignins. These results outline heterogeneity of maize stem lignins related to fractionation of grass materials.
