Institute of Systems Biotechnology, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany.
Institute of Systems Biotechnology, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany.
Metab Eng. 2022 May;71:13-41. doi: 10.1016/j.ymben.2021.11.011. Epub 2021 Dec 2.
Lignin is an important structural component of terrestrial plants and is readily generated during biomass fractionation in lignocellulose processing facilities. Due to lacking alternatives the majority of technical lignins is industrially simply burned into heat and energy. However, considering its vast abundance and a chemically interesting richness in aromatics, lignin is presently regarded both as the most under-utilized and promising feedstock for value-added applications. Notably, microbes have evolved powerful enzymes and pathways that break down lignin and metabolize its various aromatic components. This natural pathway atlas meanwhile serves as a guiding star for metabolic engineers to breed designed cell factories and efficiently upgrade this global waste stream. The metabolism of aromatic compounds, in combination with success stories from systems metabolic engineering, as reviewed here, promises a sustainable product portfolio from lignin, comprising bulk and specialty chemicals, biomaterials, and fuels.
木质素是陆地植物的重要结构组成部分，并且在木质纤维素加工设施的生物质分级过程中很容易产生。由于缺乏替代品，大多数技术木质素在工业上只是简单地燃烧成热量和能源。然而，考虑到其丰富的资源和化学上有趣的芳香族化合物含量，木质素目前被认为是最未被充分利用但具有广阔应用前景的增值原料。值得注意的是，微生物已经进化出强大的酶和途径来分解木质素并代谢其各种芳香族成分。这个天然途径图谱同时为代谢工程师提供了指导，以培育设计好的细胞工厂，并有效地升级这个全球废物流。芳香族化合物的代谢，结合本文综述的系统代谢工程的成功案例，有望从木质素中获得可持续的产品组合，包括大宗化学品和特种化学品、生物材料和燃料。
