Genetic and biochemical investigations on bacterial catabolic pathways for lignin-derived aromatic compounds

• Published in: Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry Vol. 71; no. 1; pp. 1 - 15
• Main Authors: Masai, E.(Nagaoka Univ. of Technology, Niigata (Japan)), Katayama, Y, Fukuda, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Tokyo Japan Society for Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Agrochemistry 01.01.2007; Japan Society for Bioscience Biotechnology and Agrochemistry; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: AROMATIC COMPOUNDS; BACTERIA; Bacteria - genetics; Bacteria - metabolism; BIOCHEMICAL PATHWAYS; BIODEGRADACION; BIODEGRADATION; Biological and medical sciences; CARBON CYCLE; CATABOLISM; CATABOLISME; CATABOLISMO; CICLO DEL CARBONO; COMPOSE AROMATIQUE; COMPOSE PHENOLIQUE; COMPUESTOS AROMATICOS; COMPUESTOS FENOLICOS; CYCLE DU CARBONE; extradiol dioxygenases; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; GENETICA; GENETICS; GENETIQUE; glutathione S-transferases; Humans; Lignin - chemistry; Lignin - metabolism; lignin biodegradation; LIGNINAS; LIGNINE; LIGNINS; Metabolic Networks and Pathways; OXIDOREDUCTASES; OXIDORREDUCTASAS; OXYDOREDUCTASE; Peptide Hydrolases - metabolism; PHENOLIC COMPOUNDS; Sphingomonas; Stereoisomerism; tetrahydrofolate-dependent O-demethylases; VIA BIOQUIMICA DEL METABOLISMO; VOIE BIOCHIMIQUE DU METABOLISME; Biodegradation; Lignin; Enzyme; Transferases; Sphingomonas; extradiol dioxygenases; tetrahydrofolate-dependent O-demethylases; Glutathione transferase; lignin biodegradation; Bacteria; Genetics; Catabolism; Aromatic compound; glutathione S-transferases
• ISSN: 0916-8451; 1347-6947
• DOI: 10.1271/bbb.60437

Lignins are the most abundant aromatic compounds in nature, and their decomposition is essential to the terrestrial carbon cycle. White rot fungi secreting phenol oxidases are assumed to be involved in the initial degradation of native lignin, whereas bacteria play a main role in the mineralization of lignin-derived low-molecular-weight compounds in soil. There are a number of reports on the degradation pathways for lignin-derived aromatic compounds, but their catabolism has not been enzymatically or genetically characterized. Sphingomonas paucimobilis SYK-6 is one of the best-characterized lignin-degrading bacteria. It can grow on a wide variety of lignin-related biaryls and monoaryls, including beta-aryl ether, biphenyl, diarylpropane, and phenylpropane. These compounds are degraded via the protocatechuate (PCA) 4,5-cleavage pathway or multiple 3-O-methylgallate (3MGA) catabolic pathways. In this review, the enzyme systems for beta-aryl ether and biphenyl degradation, O demethylation linked with one carbon metabolism, the PCA 4,5-cleavage pathway, and the multiple 3MGA catabolic pathways in SYK-6 are outlined.