The enzymatic conversion of plant biomass has been recently revolutionized by the discovery of lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs) that carry out oxidative cleavage of polysaccharides. These very powerful enzymes are abundant in fungal saprotrophs. LPMOs require activation by electrons that can be provided by cellobiose dehydrogenases (CDHs), but as some fungi lack CDH-encoding genes, other recycling enzymes must exist. We investigated the ability of AA3_2 flavoenzymes secreted under lignocellulolytic conditions to trigger oxidative cellulose degradation by AA9 LPMOs. Among the flavoenzymes tested, we show that glucose dehydrogenase and aryl-alcohol quinone oxidoreductases are catalytically efficient electron donors for LPMOs. These single-domain flavoenzymes display redox potentials compatible with electron transfer between partners. Our findings extend the array of enzymes which regulate the oxidative degradation of cellulose by lignocellulolytic fungi.
We report here two copper complexes as first functional models for lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases, mononuclear copper-containing enzymes involved in recalcitrant polysaccharide breakdown. These complexes feature structural and spectroscopic properties similar to those of the enzyme. In addition, they catalyze oxidative cleavage of the model substrate p-nitrophenyl-β-d-glucopyranoside. More importantly, a particularly stable copper(II) hydroperoxide intermediate is detected in the reaction conditions.
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