2014/04/03 by Curtis G. Wilkerson, Shawn D. Mansfield, Fachuang Lu +8 · 1 citation
Engineering · Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · #Lignin and Wood Chemistry #Plant Gene Expression Analysis #Biofuel production and bioconversion
paper · doi:10.1126/science.1250161
openalex publication_date 2014/04/03 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/25
Redesigning lignin, the aromatic polymer fortifying plant cell walls, to be more amenable to chemical depolymerization can lower the energy required for industrial processing. We have engineered poplar trees to introduce ester linkages into the lignin polymer backbone by augmenting the monomer pool with monolignol ferulate conjugates. Herein, we describe the isolation of a transferase gene capable of forming these conjugates and its xylem-specific introduction into poplar. Enzyme kinetics, in planta expression, lignin structural analysis, and improved cell wall digestibility after mild alkaline pretreatment demonstrate that these trees produce the monolignol ferulate conjugates, export them to the wall, and use them during lignification. Tailoring plants to use such conjugates during cell wall biosynthesis is a promising way to produce plants that are designed for deconstruction.