ARS | Publication request: NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENGINEERING LIGNINS

Submitted to: Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals Symposium Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: May 5, 1998
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: Recent findings suggest that there is greater potential for lignin modification in plants than previously considered. Viable mutant plants that are unable to produce (sufficient quantities of) normal lignin monomers due to natural or biogenetic mutations appear to utilize other plant phenols to create a functional, yet modified 'lignin' polymer. These phenols do not necessarily come from the normal monolignol biosynthetic pathway and were therefore unanticipated. While this unexpected metabolic plasticity means that attempts to downregulate lignification by targeting pathway enzymes may not always be successful because plants may still make as much 'lignin' from other phenolics, it provides significant opportunities for engineering lignin to create new "lignins" with different properties. We now have the potential to induce plants to create their lignins from other components. While these components may not be totally of four choosing, it is reasonable to assume that some possibilities within th realm of existing plant biochemistry have the potential to produce lignins that allow more extensive 'exploitation' of plants.