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The natural heterogeneity of guaiacyl (G) and syringyl (S) compounds resulting from lignin processing hampers their direct use as plant‐based chemicals and materials. Herein, we explore six short polyphenol oxidases (PPOs) from lignocellulose‐degrading ascomycetes for their capacity to react with G‐type and S‐type phenolic compounds. All six PPOs catalyze the ortho‐hydroxylation of G‐type compounds (guaiacol, vanillic acid, and ferulic acid), forming the corresponding methoxy‐ortho‐diphenols. Remarkably, a subset of these PPOs is also active towards S‐compounds (syringol, syringic acid, and sinapic acid) resulting in identical methoxy‐ortho‐diphenols. Assays with 18O2 demonstrate that these PPOs in particular catalyze ortho‐hydroxylation and ortho‐demethoxylation of S‐compounds and generate methanol as a co‐product. Oxidative (ortho−) demethoxylation of S‐compounds is a novel reaction for PPOs, which we propose occurs by a distinct reaction mechanism as compared to aryl‐O‐demethylases. We further show that addition of a reducing agent can steer the PPO reaction to form methoxy‐ortho‐diphenols from both G‐ and S‐type substrates rather than reactive quinones that lead to unfavorable polymerization. Application of PPOs opens for new routes to reduce the heterogeneity and methoxylation degree of mixtures of G and S lignin‐derived compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dimethylallyl tryptophan synthases (DMATSs) are aromatic prenyltransferases that catalyze the transfer of a prenyl moiety from a donor to an aromatic acceptor during the biosynthesis of microbial secondary metabolites. Due to their broad substrate scope, DMATSs are anticipated as biotechnological tools for producing bioactive prenylated aromatic compounds. Our study explored the substrate scope and product profile of a recombinant RePT, a novel DMATS from the thermophilic fungus Rasamsonia emersonii. Among a variety of aromatic substrates, RePT showed the highest substrate conversion for l-tryptophan and l-tyrosine (> 90%), yielding two mono-prenylated products in both cases. Nine phenolics from diverse phenolic subclasses were notably converted (> 10%), of which the stilbenes oxyresveratrol, piceatannol, pinostilbene, and resveratrol were the best acceptors (37–55% conversion). The position of prenylation was determined using NMR spectroscopy or annotated using MS2 fragmentation patterns, demonstrating that RePT mainly catalyzed mono-O-prenylation on the hydroxylated aromatic substrates. On l-tryptophan, a non-hydroxylated substrate, it preferentially catalyzed C7 prenylation with reverse N1 prenylation as a secondary reaction. Moreover, RePT also possessed substrate-dependent organic solvent tolerance in the presence of 20% (v/v) methanol or DMSO, where a significant conversion (> 90%) was maintained. Our study demonstrates the potential of RePT as a biocatalyst for the production of bioactive prenylated aromatic amino acids, stilbenes, and various phenolic compounds. Key points: • RePT catalyzes prenylation of diverse aromatic substrates. • RePT enables O-prenylation of phenolics, especially stilbenes. • The novel RePT remains active in 20% methanol or DMSO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyphenol oxidases catalyze the hydroxylation of monophenols to diphenols, which are reducing agents for lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs) in their degradation of cellulose. In particular, the polyphenol oxidase MtPPO7 from Myceliophthora thermophila converts lignocellulose‐derived monophenols, and under the new perspective of the peroxygenase reaction catalyzed by LPMOs, we aim to differentiate the role of the catalytic products of MtPPO7 in priming and fueling of LPMO activity. Exemplified by the activity of MtPPO7 towards guaiacol and by using the benchmark LPMO NcAA9C from Neurospora crassa we show that MtPPO7 catalytic products provide the initial electron for the reduction of Cu(II) to Cu(I) but cannot provide the required reducing power for continuous fueling of the LPMO. The priming reaction is shown to occur with catalytic amounts of MtPPO7 products and those compounds do not generate substantial amounts of H2O2 in situ to fuel the LPMO peroxygenase activity. Reducing agents with a low propensity to generate H2O2 can provide the means for controlling the LPMO catalysis through exogenous H2O2 and thereby minimize any enzyme inactivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Arabinoxylan is the main fiber component in corn and corn co‐products that are commonly included in pig diets. However, this fiber fraction is resistant to enzymatic degradation in the gastrointestinal tract of pigs. Ferulic acid and p‐coumaric acid are covalently linked to arabinoxylan, so it is likely that the majority of these hydroxycinnamic acids are excreted in feces. However, data to confirm this have not been reported. The objective of this research was therefore to quantify the ferulic and p‐coumaric acids in a diet based on corn and soybean meal (SBM) and in a diet based on corn, SBM, and distillers' dried grains with solubles, as well as in feces from pigs fed these diets. RESULTS: The concentration of bound ferulic and coumaric acids in diets was greater in the corn‐SBM‐DDGS diet and in feces from pigs fed this diet than in the corn‐SBM diet and feces from pigs fed that diet. The disappearance of free coumaric acids was greater (>85%) than that of bound phenolic acids (<50%) in both diets. The disappearance of free coumaric acid and bound ferulic acid in the intestinal tract of pigs was not different between the two diets. In contrast, disappearance of bound coumaric acid was greater (P < 0.05) in the corn‐SBM diet than in the corn‐SBM‐DDGS diet. CONCLUSION: A diet based on corn and SBM contains less hydroxycinnamic acid than a corn‐SBM‐DDGS diet but bound phenolic acids are more resistant to digestion by pigs than free phenolic acids. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fungal arabinofuranosidases (ABFs) catalyze the hydrolysis of arabinosyl substituents (Ara) and are key in the interplay with other glycosyl hydrolases to saccharify arabinoxylans (AXs). Most characterized ABFs belong to GH51 and GH62 and are known to hydrolyze the linkage of α-(1→2)-Ara and α-(1→3)-Ara in monosubstituted xylosyl residues (Xyl) (ABF-m2,3). Nevertheless, in AX a substantial number of Xyls have two Aras (i.e., disubstituted), which are unaffected by ABFs from GH51 and GH62. To date, only two fungal enzymes have been identified (in GH43_36) that specifically release the α-(1→3)-Ara from disubstituted Xyls (ABF-d3). In our research, phylogenetic analysis of available GH43_36 sequences revealed two major clades (GH43_36a and GH43_36b) with an expected substrate specificity difference. The characterized fungal ABF-d3 enzymes aligned with GH43_36a, including the GH43_36 from Humicola insolens (HiABF43_36a). Hereto, the first fungal GH43_36b (from Talaromyces pinophilus) was cloned, purified, and characterized (TpABF43_36b). Surprisingly, TpABF43_36b was found to be active as ABF-m2,3, albeit with a relatively low rate compared to other ABFs tested, and showed minor xylanase activity. Novel specificities were also discovered for the HiABF43_36a, as it also released α-(1→2)-Ara from a disubstitution on the non-reducing end of an arabinoxylooligosaccharide (AXOS), and it was active to a lesser extent as an ABF-m2,3 towards AXOS when the Ara was on the second xylosyl from the non-reducing end. In essence, this work adds new insights into the biorefinery of agricultural residues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Feruloyl esterases (FAEs) and acetyl xylan esterases (AXEs) are important enzymes for plant biomass degradation and are both present in Carbohydrate Esterase family 1 (CE1) of the Carbohydrate‐Active enZymes database. In this study, ten novel fungal CE1 enzymes from different subfamilies were heterologously produced and screened for their activity towards model and complex plant biomass substrates. CE1_1 enzymes possess AXE activity, while CE1_5 enzymes showed FAE activity. Two enzymes from CE1_2 and one from CE1_5 possess dual feruloyl/acetyl xylan esterase (FXE) activity, showing expansion of substrate specificity. The new FXEs from CE1 can efficiently release both feruloyl and acetyl residues from feruloylated xylan, making them particularly interesting novel components of industrial enzyme cocktails for plant biomass degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs) play a key role in enzymatic degradation of hard‐to‐convert polysaccharides, such as chitin and cellulose. It is widely accepted that LPMOs catalyze a single regioselective oxidation of the C1 or C4 carbon of a glycosidic linkage, after which the destabilized linkage breaks. Here, a series of novel C4/C6 double oxidized cello‐oligosaccharides was discovered. Products were characterized, aided by sodium borodeuteride reduction and hydrophilic interaction chromatography coupled to mass spectrometric analysis. The C4/C6 double oxidized products were generated by C4 and C1/C4 oxidizing LPMOs, but not by C1 oxidizing ones. By performing incubation and reduction in H218O, it was confirmed that the C6 gem‐diol structure resulted from oxygenation, although oxidation to a C6 aldehyde, followed by hydration to the C6 gem‐diol, could not be excluded. These findings can be extended to how the reactive LPMO‐cosubstrate complex is positioned towards the substrate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]