[SCAN] Old and new central pathways for the catabolism of aromatic compounds in fungi

Title: Old and new central pathways for the catabolism of aromatic compounds in fungi

Speaker: Tiago Martins

Abstract: Lignocellulosic biomass is an invaluable renewable resource for the sustainable production of fuels, chemicals, and materials. 

Lignin, a heterogeneous aromatic biopolymer, is the second most abundant plant polymer after cellulose. The biological depolymerization of lignin releases various and structurally diverse aromatic monomers during plant cell wall deconstruction and several strategies have evolved for its metabolism. Numerous peripheral pathways converge on a small number of central intermediates that undergo aromatic ring-opening in the central pathways. In the last decade, most of the catabolic genes that make up these central pathways were finally described. We used proteomics or transcriptomics, gene mining, metabolomics, and gene-deletion mutant strain characterization to study several of the old central pathways. 
And in the process, we found completely new or overlooked central pathways. The data now available on the central pathways for the catabolism of aromatic compounds will progressively allow the use of mixtures of lignin derivatives to produce added-value compounds.