AUTHOR=Gonçalves Carolyne Caetano , Bruce Thiago , Silva Caio de Oliveira Gorgulho , Fillho Edivaldo Ximenes Ferreira , Noronha Eliane Ferreira , Carlquist Magnus , Parachin Nádia Skorupa TITLE=Bioprospecting Microbial Diversity for Lignin Valorization: Dry and Wet Screening Methods JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology VOLUME=11 YEAR=2020 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2020.01081 DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2020.01081 ISSN=1664-302X ABSTRACT=

Lignin is an abundant cell wall component, and it has been used mainly for generating steam and electricity. Nevertheless, lignin valorization, i.e. the conversion of lignin into high value-added fuels, chemicals, or materials, is crucial for the full implementation of cost-effective lignocellulosic biorefineries. From this perspective, rapid screening methods are crucial for time- and resource-efficient development of novel microbial strains and enzymes with applications in the lignin biorefinery. The present review gives an overview of recent developments and applications of a vast arsenal of activity and sequence-based methodologies for uncovering novel microbial strains with ligninolytic potential, novel enzymes for lignin depolymerization and for unraveling the main metabolic routes during growth on lignin. Finally, perspectives on the use of each of the presented methods and their respective advantages and disadvantages are discussed.