Marie-Thérèse Tollier

Red Xylem and Higher Lignin Extractability by Down-Regulating a Cinnamyl Alcohol Dehydrogenase in Poplar

Cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD) catalyzes the last step in the biosynthesis of the lignin precursors, the monolignols. We have down-regulated CAD in transgenic poplar (Populus tremula X Populus alba) by both antisense and co-suppression strategies. Several antisense and sense CAD transgenic poplars had an approximately 70% reduced CAD activity that was associated with a red coloration of the xylem tissue. Neither the lignin amount nor the lignin monomeric composition (syringyl/guaiacyl) were significantly modified. However, phloroglucinol-HCl staining was different in the down-regulated CAD plants, suggesting changes in the number of aldehyde units in the lignin. Furthermore, the reactivity of the cell wall toward alkali treatment was altered: a lower amount of lignin was found in the insoluble, saponified residue and more lignin could be precipitated from the soluble alkali fraction. Moreover, large amounts of phenolic compounds, vanillin and especially syringaldehyde, were detected in the soluble alkali fraction of the CAD down-regulated poplars. Alkaline pulping experiments on 3-month-old trees showed a reduction of the kappa number without affecting the degree of cellulose degradation. These results indicate that reducing the CAD activity in trees might be a valuable strategy to optimize certain processes of the wood industry, especially those of the pulp and paper industry.

Characterisation of the Monomeric Composition of in situWheat Straw Lignins by Alkaline Nitrobenzene Oxidation: Effect of Temperature and Reaction Time

The effect of temperature and time on the recovery yield of the products of alkaline nitrobenzene oxidation of in situ lignins in wheat straw inter-nodes and corresponding leaves were studied. The results showed that significant variations in the yields of aromatic aldehydes (p-hydroxybenzaldehyde, vanillin and syringaldehyde) as well as hydroxycinnamic acids (p-coumaric and ferulic acids) arise from changes in the temperature and the reaction time. The conditions for maximum yield depend on the aldehyde concerned. For example, the yield of p-hydroxybenzaldehyde increases with increasing temperature and reaction time. This phenomenon could be attributed to the low relative reactivity related to the specific electronic structure of the non-methoxylated units and/or to the existence of specific condensation reactions involving the p-hydroxyphenyl aromatic ring. Finally, the results indicate a much higher complexity of Gramineae lignins compared to those derived from hardwoods and softwoods.