Projects per year
Abstract
Organisms use diverse mechanisms involving multiple complementary enzymes, particularly glycoside hydrolases (GHs), to deconstruct lignocellulose. Lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs) produced by bacteria and fungi facilitate deconstruction as does the Fenton chemistry of brown-rot fungi. Lignin depolymerisation is achieved by white-rot fungi and certain bacteria, using peroxidases and laccases. Meta-omics is now revealing the complexity of prokaryotic degradative activity in lignocellulose-rich environments. Protists from termite guts and some oomycetes produce multiple lignocellulolytic enzymes. Lignocellulose-consuming animals secrete some GHs, but most harbour a diverse enzyme-secreting gut microflora in a mutualism that is particularly complex in termites. Shipworms however, house GH-secreting and LPMO-secreting bacteria separate from the site of digestion and the isopod Limnoria relies on endogenous enzymes alone. The omics revolution is identifying many novel enzymes and paradigms for biomass deconstruction, but more emphasis on function is required, particularly for enzyme cocktails, in which LPMOs may play an important role.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 108-119 |
Number of pages | 12 |
Journal | Current Opinion in Chemical Biology |
Volume | 29 |
Early online date | 14 Nov 2015 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Dec 2015 |
Keywords
- BB/H531543/1
- BB/L001926/1
- BB/1018492/1
- BB/K020358/1
- BB/G016208/1
- RCUK
- BBSRC
Fingerprint
Dive into the research topics of 'Lignocellulose degradation mechanisms across the Tree of Life'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
- 1 Finished
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Learning from Marine Wood Borers: Enzymes and Mechanisms of Lignocellulose Digestion
McQueen-Mason, S. J. (PI), Cragg, S. (CoI), McGeehan, J. (CoI), Walton, P. H. (CoI), Dupree, P. (CoI), Davies, G. J. (CoI) & Bruce, N. C. (CoI)
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
1/04/14 → 31/03/19
Project: Research