A simple enzymatic assay for the quantification of C1-specific cellulose oxidation by lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases.

OBJECTIVE: The development of an enzymatic assay for the specific quantification of the C1-oxidation product, i.e. gluconic acid of cellulose active lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs). RESULTS: In combination with a ß-glucosidase, the spectrophotometrical assay can reliably quantify the specific C1- oxidation product of LPMOs acting on cellulose. It is applicable for a pure cellulose model substrate as well as lignocellulosic biomass. The enzymatic assay compares well with the quantification performed by HPAEC-PAD. In addition, we show that simple boiling is not sufficient to inactivate LPMOs and we suggest to apply a metal chelator in addition to boiling or to drastically increase pH for proper inactivation. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the versatility of this simple enzymatic assay makes it useful in a wide range of experiments in basic and applied LPMO research and without the need for expensive instrumentation, e.g. HPAEC-PAD.

Thermal unfolding and refolding of a lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase from Thermoascus aurantiacus.

Lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs) are copper-containing enzymes which promote the degradation of recalcitrant polysaccharides like cellulose or chitin. Here, we have investigated the thermostability of an LPMO from Thermoascus aurantiacus (TaLPMO9A). TaLPMO9A was found to retain most of its initial activity after incubating at 100 °C while its apparent melting temperature (T m) is 69 °C at neutral pH. Interestingly, our studies show that holoTaLPMO9A, apoTaLPMO9A and deglycosylated TaLPMO9A can fold back to their original conformation upon lowering the temperature. In the presence of ß-mercaptoethanol the protein does not refold. Activity of TaLPMO9A and refolded TaLPMO9A was studied by an Amplex® Red assay as well as by TaLPMO9A catalysed oxidation of phosphoric acid swollen cellulose (PASC). These studies confirm the functional regain of TaLPMO9A activity upon going through one cycle of unfolding and refolding. The thermal unfolding and refolding of TaLPMO9A was measured spectroscopically. Utilizing the two-state model, detailed thermodynamic parameters were obtained for holoTaLPMO. Furthermore, we have investigated the kinetics of TaLPMO9A unfolding and refolding. Our results have implications in understanding LPMO stability, which is crucial for the efficient application of LPMOs as biocatalysts during biomass degradation.

On the formation and role of reactive oxygen species in light-driven LPMO oxidation of phosphoric acid swollen cellulose.

Light-driven activation of lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs) has been attributed to the transfer of high redox potential electrons from excited photopigments to the enzyme. However, due to the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in such a system, not only electrons from the pigments but also ROS could be part of the enzyme mechanism. This work investigates the role of ROS in the oxidation of phosphoric acid swollen cellulose (PASC) by a light-driven LPMO system. Our results clearly show that the addition of superoxide dismutase or catalase to remove ROS did not attenuate the capacity of the light-driven LPMO system to oxidize PASC, as measured by formation of oxidized oligosaccharides. We conclude that ROS are not part of the light-driven LPMO activation; hence, transfer of high redox potential electrons from the excited photopigment to the LPMO remains the most likely mechanism under the conditions tested in this study.

Light-driven oxidation of polysaccharides by photosynthetic pigments and a metalloenzyme.

Oxidative processes are essential for the degradation of plant biomass. A class of powerful and widely distributed oxidative enzymes, the lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs), oxidize the most recalcitrant polysaccharides and require extracellular electron donors. Here we investigated the effect of using excited photosynthetic pigments as electron donors. LPMOs combined with pigments and reducing agents were exposed to light, which resulted in a never before seen 100-fold increase in catalytic activity. In addition, LPMO substrate specificity was broadened to include both cellulose and hemicellulose. LPMO enzymes and pigment derivatives common in the environment of plant-degrading organisms thus form a highly reactive and stable light-driven system increasing the turnover rate and versatility of LPMOs. This light-driven system may find applications in biotechnology and chemical processing.

Wet strength improvement of unbleached kraft pulp through laccase catalyzed oxidation.

Previous investigations have shown that laccase catalyzed oxidation of lignin containing wood fibers can enhance the strength of medium density fiberboards. In the present work it was investigated if laccase treatment had any impact on the tensile strength of a high yield unbleached kraft pulp. Treatment with laccase alone had only a very little effect on the wet strength of the pulp, whereas addition of lignin rich extractives increased the wet strength after the enzyme treatment significantly. A mediated oxidation gave a similar improvement of the wet tensile strength although no lignin was added to the fiber suspension. Furthermore, it was found that a heat treatment combined with a mediated oxidation gave a higher improvement in wet tensile strength than could be accounted for by the individual treatments. No change in dry tensile strength from the laccase treatment was observed. It is suggested that the observed improvement in wet tensile strength is related to polymerization of lignin on fibers in the hand sheet and/or coupling of phenoxy radicals on lignin associated to adjacent fibers. For the different mediators studied, a correlation was found between oxygen consumption upon mediated oxidation and generation of wet strength in the pulp.