Precursor biosynthesis regulation of lignin, suberin and cutin

The extracellular matrix of plants can contain the hydrophobic biopolymers lignin, suberin and/or cutin, which provide mechanical strength and limit water loss and pathogen invasion. Due to their remarkable chemical resistance, these polymers have a high potential in various biotechnological applications and can replace petrol-based resources, for example, in the packing industry. However, despite the importance of these polymers, the regulation of their precursor biosynthesis is far from being fully understood. This is particularly true for suberin and cutin, which hinders efforts to engineer their formation in plants and produce customised biopolymers. This review brings attention to knowledge gaps in the current research and highlights some of the most recent findings on transcription factors that regulate lignin, suberin and cutin precursor biosynthesis. Finally, we also briefly discuss how some of the remaining knowledge gaps can be closed.

Automated summary

This review emphasizes the importance of understanding the regulation of lignin, suberin and cutin precursor biosynthesis in plants by highlighting knowledge gaps and recent findings on transcription factors. The lack of understanding in regulating the biosynthesis of suberin and cutin impedes efforts to engineer their formation in plants and produce customized biopolymers. The discussion of how to close the remaining knowledge gaps provides insights for future research in this area.