ARS | Publication request: Perturbing Lignification: what can be learned from up- and down-regulation

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: November 14, 2006
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: The lignins in a number of mutant and transgenic plants deficient in monolignol biosynthetic enzymes have been examined by NMR and degradative methods. In some cases the lignin content and composition have been altered, while in others the lignin content, as measured by traditional means, has not appreciably declined but the lignin structure has changed. Phenolic components not normally associated with lignification may be incorporated into the polymers of some deficient plants. The plasticity of lignification suggests that attempts to reduce lignin by targeting pathway enzymes will not always be successful, but provides significant opportunities to engineer the properties of lignins to allow more extensive cell wall utilization.