Lignin-Enzyme Interactions in Biomass Conversion
Summary
Lignin, a heterogeneous aromatic polymer embedded within the plant cell wall, presents a principal barrier to efficient enzymatic deconstruction of lignocellulosic biomass. Its complex three-dimensional network contributes to biomass recalcitrance by limiting enzyme accessibility and promoting non-productive binding of hydrolytic proteins. Both hydrophobic patches and charged functional groups on lignin surfaces mediate adsorption of cellulases and hemicellulases, reducing catalytic turnover and overall sugar yields. Recent advances have dissected how lignin structural units—such as syringyl and guaiacyl monomers—and pretreatment-induced modifications influence enzyme-lignin affinity. Concurrently, strategies to mitigate inhibitory interactions—ranging from chemical modification of residual lignin to tailored enzyme cocktails with reduced surface hydrophobicity—are progressing towards integrated biorefinery schemes. By controlling electrostatic repulsion, surface charge and polymer architecture, researchers aim to unlock the vast potential of renewable feedstocks for sustainable production of biofuels, chemicals and materials.
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Lignin-Enzyme Interactions in Biomass Conversion publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in lignin-enzyme interactions in biomass conversion across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Lignin: A complex, highly cross-linked aromatic polymer in plant cell walls hindering enzyme access.
Enzymatic hydrolysis: The catalytic cleavage of polysaccharides into sugars by specific enzymes.
Non-productive adsorption: Irreversible binding of enzymes to lignin without substrate conversion.
Carbohydrate-binding module (CBM): A domain in glycoside hydrolases that mediates substrate recognition and binding.
Surface plasmon resonance (SPR): A technique for measuring biomolecular interactions by detecting refractive index changes on a sensor surface.
Quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D): An ultrasensitive method to monitor mass changes and viscoelastic properties on a quartz sensor in real time.
References
- Understanding the effects of different residual lignin fractions in acid-pretreated bamboo residues on its enzymatic digestibility. Biotechnology for Biofuels and Bioproducts (2021).
- New strategy to elucidate the positive effects of extractable lignin on enzymatic hydrolysis by quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation. Biotechnology for Biofuels and Bioproducts (2019).
- Effect of alkaline lignin modification on cellulase–lignin interactions and enzymatic saccharification yield. Biotechnology for Biofuels and Bioproducts (2018).
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