Modification of plant cell walls with hydroxycinnamic acids by BAHD acyltransferases

A - Papers appearing in refereed journals

Chandrakanth, N. N., Zhang, C. C., Freeman, J., de Souza, W. R., Bartley, L. E. and Mitchell, R. A. C. 2023. Modification of plant cell walls with hydroxycinnamic acids by BAHD acyltransferases. Frontiers in Plant Science. 13, p. 1088879. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2022.1088879

AuthorsChandrakanth, N. N., Zhang, C. C., Freeman, J., de Souza, W. R., Bartley, L. E. and Mitchell, R. A. C.
Abstract

In the last decade it has become clear that enzymes in the "BAHD" family of acyl-CoA transferases play important roles in the addition of phenolic acids to form ester-linked moieties on cell wall polymers. We focus here on the addition of two such phenolics-the hydroxycinnamates, ferulate and p-coumarate-to two cell wall polymers, glucuronoarabinoxylan and to lignin. The resulting ester-linked feruloyl and p-coumaroyl moities are key features of the cell walls of grasses and other commelinid monocots. The capacity of ferulate to participate in radical oxidative coupling means that its addition to glucuronoarabinoxylan or to lignin has profound implications for the properties of the cell wall - allowing respectively oxidative crosslinking to glucuronoarabinoxylan chains or introducing ester bonds into lignin polymers. A subclade of similar to 10 BAHD genes in grasses is now known to (1) contain genes strongly implicated in addition of p-coumarate or ferulate to glucuronoarabinoxylan (2) encode enzymes that add p-coumarate or ferulate to lignin precursors. Here, we review the evidence for functions of these genes and the biotechnological applications of manipulating them, discuss our understanding of mechanisms involved, and highlight outstanding questions for future research.

KeywordsFerulic acid; Para-coumaric acid; Grasses; Cell wall; Xylan; Lignin; Plant biotechnology; Bioenergy; Ferulic acid; Cross-links; Lignocellulosic biomass; Enzymatic degradation; UDP-arabinopyranose; Lignin Transferase; Maize; Rice; Feruloylation
Year of Publication2023
JournalFrontiers in Plant Science
Journal citation13, p. 1088879
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2022.1088879
Open accessPublished as ‘gold’ (paid) open access
FunderBiotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
Funder project or codeXylan arabinosyl transferases: identification and characterisation of their role in determining properties of grass cell walls
Publisher's version
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online17 Jan 2023
Publication process dates
Accepted28 Dec 2022
PublisherFrontiers Media SA
ISSN1664-462X

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