Isolation of structurally distinct lignin-carbohydrate fractions from maize stem by sequential alkaline extractions and endoglucanase treatment.

Sequential fractionation of extractive-free maize stems was carried out using two mild alkaline extractions (0.5 and 2 M NaOH, 20°C, 24h) before and after endoglucanase treatment. This procedure provided two lignin-carbohydrate fractions (LC1 and LC2) recovered after each alkali treatment. LC1 and LC2 contained 39% and 8% of the total lignin amount, respectively. These two fractions contained structurally distinct lignin molecules. While the content of resistant interunit bonds in lignin was 77% in LC1, it was increased up to 98% in LC2. Not unexpectedly, both alkali-soluble fractions contained substantial amount of p-coumaric and ferulic acids ether-linked to lignins. These results outline heterogeneity of maize stem lignins related to fractionation of grass materials.