University of Minnesota

Other

Washington State University

Simo Sarkanen

Masayuki Fujita

Norman G Lewis

Laurence B Davin

Albena T Dinkova-Kostova

Joshua D Ford

Yi-ru Chen-Sarkanen

Yun-Yan Wang

David R Gang

Yan Li

Yi-Ru Chen-Sarkanen

Disclosed herein are compositions that include at least about 75 weight percent (wt %) alkylated lignin based on the total weight of the composition without any solvent(s). The material having a tensile strength of at least about 35 MPa, an elongation-to-break of at least about 1.5%, or both. Articles including such materials and methods of forming the same are also disclosed.

Compositions including lignin

A method involving degrading materials that include lignin generally includes contacting a lignin sample with a flavin-dependent monooxygenase and contacting the lignin sample with an auxiliary compound.

Lignin-degrading methods

Dirigent proteins and pinoresinol/lariciresinol reductases have been isolated, together with cDNAs encoding dirigent proteins and pinoresinol/lariciresinol reductases. Accordingly, isolated DNA sequences are provided from source species , and , which code for the expression of dirigent proteins and pinoresinol/lariciresinol reductases. In other aspects, replicable recombinant cloning vehicles are provided which code for dirigent proteins or pinoresinol/lariciresinol reductases or for a base sequence sufficiently complementary to at least a portion of dirigent protein or pinoresinol/lariciresinol reductase DNA or RNA to enable hybridization therewith. In yet other aspects, modified host cells are provided that have been transformed, transfected, infected and/or injected with a recombinant cloning vehicle and/or DNA sequence encoding dirigent protein or pinoresinol/lariciresinol reductase. Thus, systems and methods are provided for the recombinant expression of dirigent proteins and/or pinoresinol/lariciresinol reductases.

Nucleotide sequences encoding pinoresinol/lariciresinol reductase proteins and their methods of use

Dirigent proteins and pinoresinol/lariciresinol reductases have been isolated, together with cDNAs encoding dirigent proteins and pinoresinol/lariciresinol reductases. Accordingly, isolated DNA sequences are provided which code for the expression of dirigent proteins and pinoresinol/lariciresinol reductases. In other aspects, replicable recombinant cloning vehicles are provided which code for dirigent proteins or pinoresinol/lariciresinol reductases or for a base sequence sufficiently complementary to at least a portion of dirigent protein or pinoresinol/lariciresinol reductase DNA or RNA to enable hybridization therewith. In yet other aspects, modified host cells are provided that have been transformed, transfected, infected and/or injected with a recombinant cloning vehicle and/or DNA sequence encoding dirigent protein or pinoresinol/lariciresinol reductase. Thus, systems and methods are provided for the recombinant expression of dirigent proteins and/or pinoresinol/lariciresinol reductases.

Recombinant pinoresinol/lariciresinol reductase, recombinant dirigent protein, and methods of use

A composition that includes the reaction product of a lignin derivative and a reactant selected from the group consisting of alkylating agents, acylating agents, and combinations thereof, where the reaction product has a measurable cohesive strength, and a plasticizer in an amount sufficient to cause the composition to exhibit plastic deformation in response to an applied tensile stress.

Growing community of inventors

Minneapolis, MN, United States of America

Simo Sarkanen