Pioneering exploration of anaerobic delignification: potentials for lignin valorization in circular bioeconomy – ExPanDe

The degradation of the lignin by aerobic microorganisms is well documented and implies laccases and peroxydases using reactive species of oxygen. In contrast, virtually nothing is known regarding the biological depolymerization of this polymer of aromatic residues in anoxic conditions. The ExPanDe project therefore aims at investigating the mechanisms/effectors in charge of the anaerobic delignification, in particular in the model bacterium Ruminiclostridium cellulolyticum, as well as in two environmental strains available at LCB.By combining transcriptomic, proteomic, biochemical and mechanistic approaches, the project goal is the discovery of a new class of enzymes/proteins capable to degrade model and industrial lignins without any oxygen. The biotechnological potential of these novel effectors will be assessed in plant biomass delignification processes. The project relies on the complementary expertise of LCB and BBF from Marseille, and IJPB from Versailles.