Detailed Characterization of the Conversion of Hardwood and Softwood Lignin by a Brown-Rot Basidiomycete

Overview

Journal Biomacromolecules

Publisher American Chemical Society

Specialties Biochemistry
Biology
Molecular Biology

Date 2025 Jan 6

PMID 39760416

Authors

Morten Rese

Gijs van Erven

Romy J Veersma

Gry Alfredsen

Vincent G H Eijsink

Mirjam A Kabel

Tina R Tuveng

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Wood-degrading brown-rot fungi primarily target carbohydrates, leaving the lignin modified and potentially valuable for valorization. Here, we report a comprehensive comparison of how degrades hardwood and softwood, which have fundamentally different lignin structures. By harnessing the latest advancements in analytical methodologies, we show that removes more lignin from wood (up to 36%) than previously reported. The brown-rot decayed lignin appeared substantially C-oxidized, -demethylated, with a reduction in interunit linkages, leading to formation of substructures indicative of C-C, β-, and -4 cleavage. Our work shows that the conversion of hardwood and softwood lignin results in similar modifications, despite the structural differences. Furthermore, lignin modification by enhances the antioxidant capacity of the lignin and generates an extractable lower molecular weight fraction. These findings improve our understanding of lignin conversion by brown-rot fungi and highlight their biotechnological potential for the development of lignin-based products.

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