Knockdown of a laccase in Populus deltoides confers altered cell wall chemistry and increased sugar release
2016
Bryan, Anthony C. | Jawdy, Sara | Gunter, Lee | Gjersing, Erica | Sykes, Robert | Hinchee, Maud A. W. | Winkeler, Kimberly A. | Collins, Cassandra M. | Engle, Nancy | Tschaplinski, Timothy J. | Yang, Xiaohan | Tuskan, Gerald A. | Muchero, Wellington | Chen, Jin‐Gui
Plant laccases are thought to function in the oxidation of monolignols which leads to higher order lignin formation. Only a hand‐full of laccases in plants have been functionally evaluated, and as such little is known about the breadth of their impact on cell wall chemistry or structure. Here, we describe a previously uncharacterized laccase from Populus, encoded by locus Potri.008G064000, whose reduced expression resulted in transgenic Populus trees with changes in syringyl/guaiacyl ratios as well as altered sugar release phenotypes. These phenotypes are consistent with plant biomass exhibiting reduced recalcitrance. Interestingly, the transgene effect on recalcitrance is dependent on a mild pretreatment prior to chemical extraction of sugars. Metabolite profiling suggests the transgene modulates phenolics that are associated with the cell wall structure. We propose that this particular laccase has a range of functions related to oxidation of phenolics and conjugation of flavonoids that interact with lignin in the cell wall.
Show more [+] Less [-]AGROVOC Keywords
Bibliographic information
This bibliographic record has been provided by National Agricultural Library