Structure, function and application of lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs)

Since 2010 [1] it is known that enzymes today known as Lytic Polysaccharide Monooxygenases (LPMOs; [2]) increase the efficiency of enzymatic saccharification of recalcitrant polysaccharides such as cellulose and chitin. These LPMOs contain a type II copper site [3-7] and their activity requires molecular oxygen and an electron donor [1]. Interestingly, biomass-degrading microbes produce a plethora of LPMOs, suggesting functional diversity. Indeed, several novel LPMO activities have recently been discovered, including activities on less recalcitrant and sometimes soluble substrates, such as xyloglucan [8], glucomannan [8], beta-glucan [8], starch [9] and even soluble cellodextrins [10]. Together with several collaborators, we study structural, functional and applied aspects of LPMOs and other redox enzymes potentially involved in biomass conversion. In this presentation, I will report on our most recent work.

References:

1. G Vaaje-Kolstad et al., Science 2010; 330: 219-22.
2. SJ Horn et al., Biotechnol Biofuels 2012; 5:45.
3. RJ Quinlan et al., PNAS 2011; 108: 15079-84.
4. FL Aachmann et al., PNAS 2012; 109:18779-84.
5. GR Hemsworth et al., JACS 2013; 135:6069-77.
6. M Gudmundsson et al., J Biol Chem 2014; 28:18782-92.
7. Z Forsberg et al., PNAS 2014; 111:8446-51.
8. J Agger et al., PNAS 2014; 111:6287-92.
9. VV Vu et al., PNAS 2014; 111:13822-7.
10. T Isaksen et al., J Biol Chem 2014; 289:2632-42.