Lignin dehydrogenative polymerization mechanism:: a poplar cell wall peroxidase directly oxidizes polymer lignin and produces in vitro dehydrogenative polymer rich in β-O-4 linkage

An investigation was performed to determine whether lignin dehydrogenative polymerization proceeds via radical mediation or direct oxidation by peroxidases. It was found that coniferyl alcohol radical transferred quickly to sinapyl alcohol. The transfer to syringaresinol was slower, however, the transfer to polymeric lignols occurred very slightly. This result suggests that the radical mediator theory does not sufficiently explain the mechanism for dehydrogenative polymerization of lignin. A cationic cell wall peroxidase (CWPO-C) from poplar (Populus alha L.) callus showed a strong substrate preference for sinapyl alcohol and the sinapyl alcohol dimer, syringaresinol. Moreover, CWPO-C was capable of oxidizing high-molecular-weight sinapyl alcohol polymers and ferrocytochrome c. Therefore, the CWPO-C characteristics are important to produce polymer lignin. The results suggest that CWPO-C may be a peroxidase isoenzyme responsible for the lignification of plant cell walls. (C) 2004 Federation of European Biochemical Societies. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.