Molecular architecture of softwood revealed by solid-state NMR

Oliver M. Terrett, Jan J. Lyczakowski, Li Yu, Dinu Iuga, W. Trent Franks, Steven P. Brown, Ray Dupree () and Paul Dupree ()
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Oliver M. Terrett: University of Cambridge, Hopkins Building, The Downing Site
Jan J. Lyczakowski: University of Cambridge, Hopkins Building, The Downing Site
Li Yu: University of Cambridge, Hopkins Building, The Downing Site
Dinu Iuga: University of Warwick
W. Trent Franks: University of Warwick
Steven P. Brown: University of Warwick
Ray Dupree: University of Warwick
Paul Dupree: University of Cambridge, Hopkins Building, The Downing Site

Nature Communications, 2019, vol. 10, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract Economically important softwood from conifers is mainly composed of the polysaccharides cellulose, galactoglucomannan and xylan, and the phenolic polymer, lignin. The interactions between these polymers lead to wood mechanical strength and must be overcome in biorefining. Here, we use 13C multidimensional solid-state NMR to analyse the polymer interactions in never-dried cell walls of the softwood, spruce. In contrast to some earlier softwood cell wall models, most of the xylan binds to cellulose in the two-fold screw conformation. Moreover, galactoglucomannan alters its conformation by intimately binding to the surface of cellulose microfibrils in a semi-crystalline fashion. Some galactoglucomannan and xylan bind to the same cellulose microfibrils, and lignin is associated with both of these cellulose-bound polysaccharides. We propose a model of softwood molecular architecture which explains the origin of the different cellulose environments observed in the NMR experiments. Our model will assist strategies for improving wood usage in a sustainable bioeconomy.

Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-12979-9

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