The present state and problems in lignin biosynthesis

摘要

The genes encoding enzymes in lignin biosynthesis and their expression mechanisms have been recently elucidated. The progress in molecular biology of lignin biosynthesis has prompted the genetic engineering to modifying lignin structures suitable for pulping and wood biomass utilization. This paper outlines the present state and problems in biochemistry and molecular biology of lignin biosynthesis. As an attempt to elucidate the chemical structure of the abnormal lignin of cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase(CAD)down regulated plants, DHPs and dimers from mixtures of coniferyl aldehyde and coniferyl alcohol were prepared as models, and the mode of linkages of coniferyl aldehyde in the DHPs has been characterized.