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Structural Characterization of Lignocresols from Transgenic and Wild-Type Switchgrass
Hao Ren1, Wenyuan Tian2, Fan Shu3
1Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, Jiangsu Provincial Key Lab of Pulp and Paper Science and Technology, Nanjing Forestry University, No.159, Longpan Rd., Xuanwu District, Nanjing 210037, China. renhao@njfu.edu.cn.
Polymers
|April 10, 2019
Summary
Transgenic switchgrass with down-regulated Cafferic acid-O-methyltransferases (COMT) showed altered lignin composition, with decreased syringyl and increased guaiacyl units. This structural modification resulted from genetic engineering, impacting biomass conversion potential.
Area of Science:
- Biomass conversion and utilization
- Plant molecular biology
- Lignin biosynthesis
Background:
- Cafferic acid-O-methyltransferases (COMT) are key enzymes in lignin biosynthesis.
- Down-regulation of COMT in transgenic switchgrass may alter lignin structure and composition.
- Understanding these alterations is crucial for optimizing biomass utilization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the structural modifications in lignin of COMT-down-regulated transgenic switchgrass.
- To compare the lignin composition of transgenic and wild-type switchgrass.
- To elucidate the impact of COMT down-regulation on lignin structure.
Main Methods:
- Phase separation using 72% sulfuric acid and cresol to isolate lignocresols (LCs).
- Characterization of LCs using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), gel permeation chromatography (GPC), ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and 2D heteronuclear single quantum coherence (HSQC).
Main Results:
- No significant changes in molecular weights or incorporated p-cresols between transgenic and wild-type switchgrass LCs.
- Significant alteration in the ratio of syringyl (S) to guaiacyl (G) units in transgenic switchgrass LC, with a decrease in S units and an increase in G units.
- Detection of benzodioxane structures and 5-hydroxyguaiacyl units, indicating the incorporation of 5-hydroxyconiferyl alcohol.
Conclusions:
- COMT down-regulation in transgenic switchgrass leads to significant changes in lignin S/G unit ratios.
- The incorporation of 5-hydroxyconiferyl alcohol is a consequence of COMT down-regulation.
- These lignin structural modifications may influence the efficiency of biomass conversion processes.
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