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Cytochromes P450 in the biocatalytic valorization of lignin Wolf, Megan E.; Hinchen, Daniel J.; DuBois, Jennifer L.; McGeehan, John E.; Eltis, Lindsay

Abstract

The valorization of lignin is critical to establishing sustainable biorefineries as we transition away from petroleum-derived feedstocks. Advances in lignin fractionation and depolymerization are yielding new opportunities for the biocatalytic upgrading of lignin-derived aromatic compounds (LDACs) using microbial cell factories. Given their roles in lignin metabolism and their catalytic versatility, cytochromes P450 are attractive enzymes in engineering such biocatalysts. Here we highlight P450s that catalyze aromatic O-demethylation, a rate-limiting step in the conversion of LDACs to valuable chemicals, including efforts to engineer the specificity of these enzymes and to use them in developing biocatalysts. We also discuss broader opportunities at the intersection of biochemistry, structure-guided enzyme engineering, and metabolic engineering for application of P450s in the emerging area of microbial lignin valorization.

Item Metadata

Title
Cytochromes P450 in the biocatalytic valorization of lignin
Creator
Wolf, Megan E.; Hinchen, Daniel J.; DuBois, Jennifer L.; McGeehan, John E.; Eltis, Lindsay
Contributor
University of British Columbia. BioProducts Institute; University of British Columbia. Life Sciences Institute
Date Issued
2022
Description
The valorization of lignin is critical to establishing sustainable biorefineries as we transition away from petroleum-derived feedstocks. Advances in lignin fractionation and depolymerization are yielding new opportunities for the biocatalytic upgrading of lignin-derived aromatic compounds (LDACs) using microbial cell factories. Given their roles in lignin metabolism and their catalytic versatility, cytochromes P450 are attractive enzymes in engineering such biocatalysts. Here we highlight P450s that catalyze aromatic O-demethylation, a rate-limiting step in the conversion of LDACs to valuable chemicals, including efforts to engineer the specificity of these enzymes and to use them in developing biocatalysts. We also discuss broader opportunities at the intersection of biochemistry, structure-guided enzyme engineering, and metabolic engineering for application of P450s in the emerging area of microbial lignin valorization.
Subject
O-demethylation; enzyme; heme protein; aromatic catabolism; lignin bioconversion; biocatalysis
Genre
Article; Postprint
Type
Text
Language
eng
Date Available
2024-04-29
Provider
Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library
Rights
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International
DOI
10.14288/1.0441987
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/2429/88042
Affiliation
Science, Faculty of; Non UBC; Microbiology and Immunology, Department of
Citation
Wolf, M. E., Hinchen, D. J., DuBois, J. L., McGeehan, J. E., & Eltis, L. D. (2022). Cytochromes P450 in the biocatalytic valorization of lignin. Current Opinion in Biotechnology, 73, 43-50
Publisher DOI
10.1016/j.copbio.2021.06.022
Peer Review Status
Reviewed
Scholarly Level
Faculty; Researcher; Graduate
Rights URI
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
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Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International