Variation pattern in the macromolecular (cellulose, hemicelluloses, lignin) composition of cell walls in Pinus tabulaeformis tree trunks at different ages as revealed using multiple techniques

Weiwei Shen; Chen Zhang; Guangchao Wang; Yujian Li; Xi Zhang; Yaning Cui; Zijian Hu; Shiya Shen; Xiuping Xu; Yuan Cao; Xiaojuan Li; Jialong Wen; Jinxing Lin

doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.131619

Variation pattern in the macromolecular (cellulose, hemicelluloses, lignin) composition of cell walls in Pinus tabulaeformis tree trunks at different ages as revealed using multiple techniques

Int J Biol Macromol. 2024 May 1:131619. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.131619. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Weiwei Shen¹, Chen Zhang², Guangchao Wang¹, Yujian Li¹, Xi Zhang¹, Yaning Cui¹, Zijian Hu¹, Shiya Shen¹, Xiuping Xu³, Yuan Cao⁴, Xiaojuan Li¹, Jialong Wen⁵, Jinxing Lin⁶

Affiliations

¹ State Key Laboratory of Efficient Production of Forest Resources, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China; Institute of Tree Development and Genome Editing, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China; National Engineering Research Center of Tree Breeding and Ecological Restoration, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China.
² Beijing Key Laboratory of Lignocellulosic Chemistry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China.
³ Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China.
⁴ State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China.
⁵ Beijing Key Laboratory of Lignocellulosic Chemistry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China. Electronic address: wenjialong@bjfu.edu.cn.
⁶ State Key Laboratory of Efficient Production of Forest Resources, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China; Institute of Tree Development and Genome Editing, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China; National Engineering Research Center of Tree Breeding and Ecological Restoration, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China. Electronic address: linjx@ibcas.ac.cn.

PMID: 38692998
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.131619

Abstract

The plant cell wall is a complex, heterogeneous structure primarily composed of cellulose, hemicelluloses, and lignin. Exploring the variations in these three macromolecules over time is crucial for understanding wood formation to enhance chemical processing and utilization. Here, we comprehensively analyzed the chemical composition of cell walls in the trunks of Pinus tabulaeformis using multiple techniques. In situ analysis showed that macromolecules accumulated gradually in the cell wall as the plant aged, and the distribution pattern of lignin was opposite that of polysaccharides, and both showed heterogenous distribution patterns. In addition, gel permeation chromatography (GPC) results revealed that the molecular weights of hemicelluloses decreased while that of lignin increased with age. Two-dimensional heteronuclear single quantum coherence nuclear magnetic resonance (2D-HSQC NMR) analysis indicated that hemicelluloses mainly comprised galactoglucomannan and arabinoglucuronoxylan, and the lignin types were mainly comprised guaiacyl (G) and p-hydroxyphenyl (H) units with three main linkage types: β-O-4, β-β, and β-5. Furthermore, the C-O bond (β-O-4) signals of lignin decreased while the C-C bonds (β-β and β-5) signals increased over time. Taken together, these findings shed light on wood formation in P. tabulaeformis and lay the foundation for enhancing the processing and use of wood and timber products.

Keywords: 2D-HSQC NMR; Biological macromolecule; CRM; Cell wall; Chemical composition; Pinus tabulaeformis.