Open AccessFerulic acid: a key component in grass lignocellulose recalcitrance to hydrolysis
Author(s) -
Oliveira Dyoni Matias,
FingerTeixeira Aline,
Rodrigues Mota Thatiane,
Salvador Victor Hugo,
MoreiraVilar Flávia Carolina,
Correa Molinari Hugo Bruno,
Craig Mitchell Rowan Andrew,
Marchiosi Rogério,
FerrareseFilho Osvaldo,
Dantas dos Santos Wanderley
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
plant biotechnology journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.525
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1467-7652
pISSN - 1467-7644
DOI - 10.1111/pbi.12292
Subject(s) - cellulosic ethanol , lignin , ferulic acid , biomass (ecology) , hydrolysis , lignocellulosic biomass , cellulose , cell wall , biofuel , p coumaric acid , biology , chemistry , food science , pulp and paper industry , botany , biochemistry , agronomy , microbiology and biotechnology , engineering
Summary In the near future, grasses must provide most of the biomass for the production of renewable fuels. However, grass cell walls are characterized by a large quantity of hydroxycinnamic acids such as ferulic and p ‐coumaric acids, which are thought to reduce the biomass saccharification. Ferulic acid ( FA ) binds to lignin, polysaccharides and structural proteins of grass cell walls cross‐linking these components. A controlled reduction of FA level or of FA cross‐linkages in plants of industrial interest can improve the production of cellulosic ethanol. Here, we review the biosynthesis and roles of FA in cell wall architecture and in grass biomass recalcitrance to enzyme hydrolysis.