Functional analysis and application of Lignin beta-O-4 bond cleavage enzymes

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25450120
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Applied microbiology
• Research Institution: Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology
• Principal Investigator: HATADA Yuji 国立研究開発法人海洋研究開発機構, 海洋生命理工学研究開発センター, グループリーダー (20399562)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): TSUBOUCHI Taishi 国立研究開発法人海洋研究開発機構, 海洋生命理工学研究開発センター, 技術副主任 (30442990) ; NISHI Shinro 国立研究開発法人海洋研究開発機構, 海洋生命理工学研究開発センター, 技術主事 (50416004) ; OHTA Yukari 国立研究開発法人海洋研究開発機構, 海洋生命理工学研究開発センター, 主任技術研究員 (40399572)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: リグニン / バイオベースプラスチック / 遺伝子 / 酵素 / 深海 / 微生物

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Lignin is the second most abundant biomass component on Earth and a potential alternative raw material to petroleum for aromatic chemicals. We identified a set of marine bacterial enzymes for specific cleavage of β-O-4 linkages which are the most frequently observed between phenylpropane monomeric units of lignin. We produced the recombinant enzymes using the genes encoding the respective enzymes. In addition, we demonstrated the physiological acclimation of the strain when it encountered the lignin model compounds.
To utilize the above mentioned enzymes as catalysts for lignin conversion in biorefinery, we examined the optimal reaction conditions (pH and temperature). Furthermore, we succeeded in the specific production of aromatic monomers with phenylpropanone structures from natural lignin preparations prepared from unutilized biomasses such as milled Rice straw and sawdust of Japanese cedar.

Free Research Field

応用微生物学