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Updated: Jun 16, 2025

Extraction of Lignin with High β-O-4 Content by Mild Ethanol Extraction and Its Effect on the Depolymerization Yield
Published on: January 7, 2019
β-Etherases in lignin valorization
Margarita Seeger1, Julian Pagel1, Anett Schallmey1
1Institute for Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany.
Abstract:
β-Etherases selectively cleave β-O-4 arylether bonds, the most common linkage type in lignin, with the help of glutathione. This way, they allow for a targeted depolymerization of lignin with selective formation of specific phenylpropanoid products, which makes β-etherases highly attractive for application in lignin biorefinery. In this chapter, we give an overview of the enzymology of this group of glutathione-S-transferases followed by detailed procedures regarding the production and biochemical characterization of β-etherases. This includes easy-to-use spectrophotometric assays for kinetic measurements as well as the determination of enantioselectivity amongst others. Finally, the application of β-etherases in combination with other enzymes for lignin depolymerization is reviewed.
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