Impact of phenolic compound as activators or inhibitors on the enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose

• Published in: International journal of biological macromolecules Vol. 186; pp. 174 - 180
• Main Authors: Stamogiannou, Ioanna, Van Camp, John, Smagghe, Guy, Van de Walle, Davy, Dewettinck, Koen, Raes, Katleen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.09.2021
• Subjects: Cellulase - antagonists & inhibitors; Cellulase - metabolism; Cellulose; Cellulose - chemistry; Cellulose - metabolism; Enzymatic hydrolysis; Enzyme Activation; Enzyme Activators - chemistry; Enzyme Activators - pharmacology; Enzyme Inhibitors - chemistry; Enzyme Inhibitors - pharmacology; Hydrolysis; Hypocreales - enzymology; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Molecular Structure; Phenolic compounds; Phenols - chemistry; Phenols - pharmacology; Spectrophotometry; Structure-Activity Relationship; Phenolic compounds; Enzymatic hydrolysis; Cellulose
• ISSN: 0141-8130; 1879-0003
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2021.07.052

The influence of phenolic compounds on the enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose was studied in depth using spectrophotometric techniques, adsorption analysis and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). In this paper for the first time, both possible interactions between phenolic compounds and the enzyme or the substrate were investigated, with the use of various phenolic compounds, cellulase from T. reesei, and Avicel as cellulose source. Three classes of phenolic compounds have been identified, based on their effect on the hydrolysis of cellulose: inhibitors (quercetin, kaempferol, trans-cinnamic acid, luteolin, ellagic acid), non-inhibitors (p-coumaric acid, rutin, caffeic acid), and activators (ferulic acid, syringic acid, sinapic acid, vanillic acid). Secondly, since various structures of phenolic compounds were tested, a structure – action comprehensive correlation was possible leading to the conclusion that an -OCH3 group was necessary for the activating effect. Finally, based on the adsorption spectra and unique SEM images, a different way of adsorption (either on the enzyme or on the substrate) was noticed, depending on the activating or inhibiting action of the phenolic compound. •Phenolic compounds either inhibit or activate the hydrolysis of cellulose•The structure of phenolic compounds was assessed as a critical parameter of their activity.•Substrate – phenolic compounds interactions: influence the enzymatic hydrolysis•SEM images: adsorption of phenolic compounds to cellulose or cellulase•Substrate morphology: alteration in the presence of phenolic compounds