Name: estimation of plant biomass lignin content using thioglycolic acid (tga)
Uploaded: 2021-07-24T13:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Estimation of Plant Biomass Lignin Content using Thioglycolic Acid TGA at JoVE.com

We thank the Department of Plant &#38; Soil Science and Cotton Inc. for their partial support of this study.

1. Preparation of plant samples
<ol>
	<li>Collect two-month-old cotton plants from the greenhouse (Figure 1A).</li>
	<li>Flip plant pots gently to separate soil and roots with intact lateral roots by loosening the soil around the plant (Figure 1B).</li>
	<li>Wash the collected plants thoroughly in trays filled with water to remove all the dirt (for root samples) (Figure 1C).</li>
	<li>Use paper towels to dry separated root, stem, ...

<ol>
	<li>Freudenberg, K., Neish, A. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Constitutionand Biosynthesis of Lignin. , 129 (1968).</li><li>Chio, C., Sain, M., Qin, W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Lignin+utilization:+A+review+of+lignin+depolymerization+from+various+aspects.">Lignin utilization: A review of lignin depolymerization from various aspects.</a> Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. 107, 232-249 (2019).</li><li>Sun, Z., Fridrich, B., de Santi, A., Elangovan, S., Barta, K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Bright+Side+of+Lignin+Depolymerization:+Toward+New+Platform+Chemicals.">Bright Side of Lignin Depolymerization: Toward New Platform Chemicals.</a> Chemical Reviews. 118, 614-678 (2018).</li><li>Xu, F., Sun, R. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Cereal Straw as a Resource for Sustainable Biomaterials and Biofuels. , 9-47 (2010).</li><li>Liu, Q., Luo, L., Zheng, L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Lignins:+Biosynthesis+and+Biological+Functions+in+Plants.">Lignins: Biosynthesis and Biological Functions in Plants.</a> International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 19, 335 (2018).</li><li>Ithal, N., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Developmental+transcript+profiling+of+cyst+nematode+feeding+cells+in+soybean+roots.">Developmental transcript profiling of cyst nematode feeding cells in soybean roots.</a> Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions. 20, 510-525 (2007).</li><li>Moura, J. C. M. S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Abiotic+and+Biotic+Stresses+and+Changes+in+the+Lignin+Content+and+Composition+in+Plants.">Abiotic and Biotic Stresses and Changes in the Lignin Content and Composition in Plants.</a> Journal of Integrative Plant Biology. 52, 360-376 (2010).</li><li>Vanholme, R., Morreel, K., Ralph, J., Boerjan, W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Lignin+engineering.">Lignin engineering.</a> Current Opinion In Plant Biology. 11, 278-285 (2008).</li><li>Lupoi, J. S., Singh, S., Parthasarathi, R., Simmons, B. A., Henry, R. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Recent+innovations+in+analytical+methods+for+the+qualitative+and+quantitative+assessment+of+lignin.">Recent innovations in analytical methods for the qualitative and quantitative assessment of lignin.</a> Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. 49, 871-906 (2015).</li><li>Mendu, V., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Identification+and+thermochemical+analysis+of+high-lignin+feedstocks+for+biofuel+and+biochemical+production.">Identification and thermochemical analysis of high-lignin feedstocks for biofuel and biochemical production.</a> Biotechnology for Biofuels. 4, 43 (2011).</li><li>Shrotri, A., Kobayashi, H., Fukuoka, A., Song, C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Advances in Catalysis. 60, 59-123 (2017).</li><li>Brunow, G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Biorefineries-Industrial Processes and Products: Status Quo and Future Directions. 2, 151-163 (2008).</li><li>Constant, S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=New+insights+into+the+structure+and+composition+of+technical+lignins:+a+comparative+characterisation+study.">New insights into the structure and composition of technical lignins: a comparative characterisation study.</a> Green Chemistry. , (2016).</li><li>Shimada, N., Tsuyama, T., Kamei, I. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Rapid+Determination+of+Thioglycolic+Acid+Lignin+for+Various+Biomass+Samples.">Rapid Determination of Thioglycolic Acid Lignin for Various Biomass Samples.</a> Mokuzai Gakkaishi. 65, 25-32 (2019).</li><li>Li, X., Weng, J. K., Chapple, C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Improvement+of+biomass+through+lignin+modification.">Improvement of biomass through lignin modification.</a> The Plant Journal: For Cell and Molecular Biology. 54, 569-581 (2008).</li><li>Ponnusamy, V. K., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+review+on+lignin+structure,+pretreatments,+fermentation+reactions+and+biorefinery+potential.">A review on lignin structure, pretreatments, fermentation reactions and biorefinery potential.</a> Bioresource Technology. 271, 462-472 (2019).</li><li>Hatfield, R., Fukushima, R. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Can+Lignin+Be+Accurately+Measured.">Can Lignin Be Accurately Measured.</a> Crop Science. 45, 832-839 (2005).</li><li>Bolker, H., Somerville, N. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Ultraviolet+spectroscopicstudies+of+lignin+in+solid+state.+I.+Isolated+lignin+preparations.">Ultraviolet spectroscopicstudies of lignin in solid state. I. Isolated lignin preparations.</a> Tappi Journal. 72, 826-829 (1962).</li><li>Fergus, B. J., Goring, D. A. I. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+distribution+of+lignin+in+birchwood+as+determined+by+ultraviolet+microscopy.">The distribution of lignin in birchwood as determined by ultraviolet microscopy.</a> Holzforschung. 24, 118-124 (1970).</li><li>Schultz, T. P., Templeton, M. C., McGinnis, G. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Rapid+determination+of+lignocellulose+by+diffuse+reflectance+Fourier+transform+infrared+spectrometry.">Rapid determination of lignocellulose by diffuse reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectrometry.</a> Analytical Chemistry. 57, 2867-2869 (1985).</li><li>Dence, C. W., Lin, S. Y., Dence, C. W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+Determination+of+Lignin.">The Determination of Lignin.</a> Methods in Lignin Chemistry. , (1992).</li><li>Adler, E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Lignin+chemistry-past,+present+and+future.">Lignin chemistry-past, present and future.</a> Wood Science and Technology. 11, 169-218 (1977).</li><li>Brinkmann, K., Blaschke, L., Polle, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Comparison+of+different+methods+for+lignin+determination+as+a+basis+for+calibration+of+near-infrared+reflectance+spectroscopy+and+implications+of+lignoproteins.">Comparison of different methods for lignin determination as a basis for calibration of near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy and implications of lignoproteins.</a> Journal of Chemical Ecology. 28, 2483-2501 (2002).</li><li>Pandey, M. P., Kim, C. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Lignin+Depolymerization+and+Conversion:+A+Review+of+Thermochemical+Methods.">Lignin Depolymerization and Conversion: A Review of Thermochemical Methods.</a> Chemical Engineering &amp; Technology. 34, 29-41 (2011).</li><li>Moreira-Vilar, F. C., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+acetyl+bromide+method+is+faster,+simpler+and+presents+best+recovery+of+lignin+in+different+herbaceous+tissues+than+Klason+and+thioglycolic+acid+methods.">The acetyl bromide method is faster, simpler and presents best recovery of lignin in different herbaceous tissues than Klason and thioglycolic acid methods.</a> PLoS One. 9, 110000 (2014).</li><li>Hatfield, R. D., Grabber, J., Ralph, J., Brei, K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Using+the+Acetyl+Bromide+Assay+To+Determine+Lignin+Concentrations+in+Herbaceous+Plants:+Some+Cautionary+Notes.">Using the Acetyl Bromide Assay To Determine Lignin Concentrations in Herbaceous Plants: Some Cautionary Notes.</a> Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 47, 628-632 (1999).</li><li>Suzuki, S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=High-throughput+determination+of+thioglycolic+acid+lignin+from+rice.">High-throughput determination of thioglycolic acid lignin from rice.</a> Plant Biotechnology. 26, 337-340 (2009).</li><li>Nakatsubo, F., Tanahashi, M., Higuchi, T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Acidolysis+of+Bamboo+Lignin+II+:+Isolation+and+Identification+of+Acidolysis+Products.">Acidolysis of Bamboo Lignin II : Isolation and Identification of Acidolysis Products.</a> Wood research. 53, 9-18 (1972).</li><li>Aro, T., Fatehi, P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Production+and+Application+of+Lignosulfonates+and+Sulfonated+Lignin.">Production and Application of Lignosulfonates and Sulfonated Lignin.</a> ChemSusChem. 10, 1861-1877 (2017).</li><li>Frei, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Lignin:+Characterization+of+a+Multifaceted+Crop+Component.">Lignin: Characterization of a Multifaceted Crop Component.</a> The Scientific World Journal. 2013, 436517 (2013).</li><li>Lora, J. H., Glasser, W. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Recent+Industrial+Applications+of+Lignin:+A+Sustainable+Alternative+to+Nonrenewable+Materials.">Recent Industrial Applications of Lignin: A Sustainable Alternative to Nonrenewable Materials.</a> Journal of Polymers and the Environment. 10, 39-48 (2002).</li><li>Wang, R., Zhou, B., Wang, Z. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Study+on+the+Preparation+and+Application+of+Lignin-Derived+Polycarboxylic+Acids.">Study on the Preparation and Application of Lignin-Derived Polycarboxylic Acids.</a> Journal of Chemistry. 2019, 5493745 (2019).</li><li>Welker, C. M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Engineering+Plant+Biomass+Lignin+Content+and+Composition+for+Biofuels+and+Bioproducts.">Engineering Plant Biomass Lignin Content and Composition for Biofuels and Bioproducts.</a> Energies. 8, 7654-7676 (2015).</li><li>Mendu, V., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Global+bioenergy+potential+from+high-lignin+agricultural+residue.">Global bioenergy potential from high-lignin agricultural residue.</a> Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 109, 4014-4019 (2012).</li><li>Brinkmann, K., Blaschke, L., Polle, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Comparison+of+Different+Methods+for+Lignin+Determination+as+a+Basis+for+Calibration+of+Near-Infrared+Reflectance+Spectroscopy+and+Implications+of+Lignoproteins.">Comparison of Different Methods for Lignin Determination as a Basis for Calibration of Near-Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy and Implications of Lignoproteins.</a> Journal of Chemical Ecology. 28, 2483-2501 (2002).</li><li>Moreira-Vilar, F. C., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+Acetyl+Bromide+Method+Is+Faster,+Simpler+and+Presents+Best+Recovery+of+Lignin+in+Different+Herbaceous+Tissues+than+Klason+and+Thioglycolic+Acid+Methods.">The Acetyl Bromide Method Is Faster, Simpler and Presents Best Recovery of Lignin in Different Herbaceous Tissues than Klason and Thioglycolic Acid Methods.</a> PLoS One. 9, 110000 (2014).</li><li>Iwaasa, A. D., Beauchemin, K. A., Acharya, S. N., Buchanan-Smith, J. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Effect+of+stage+of+maturity+and+growth+cycle+on+shearing+force+and+cell+wall+chemical+constituents+of+alfalfa+stems.">Effect of stage of maturity and growth cycle on shearing force and cell wall chemical constituents of alfalfa stems.</a> Canadian Journal of Animal Science. 76, 321-328 (1996).</li><li>Arai-Sanoh, Y., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Genotypic+Variations+in+Non-Structural+Carbohydrate+and+Cell-Wall+Components+of+the+Stem+in+Rice,+Sorghum,+and+Sugar+Vane.">Genotypic Variations in Non-Structural Carbohydrate and Cell-Wall Components of the Stem in Rice, Sorghum, and Sugar Vane.</a> Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry. , 1105072478 (2011).</li></ol>

Lignin plays a significant role in plant growth and development and recently has been extensively studied for biofuel, bioenergy and bioproduct applications. Lignin is rich in aromatic compounds that are stored in all vascular plant secondary cell walls. It has several industrial applications such as wood panel products, bio dispersants, flocculants, polyurethane foams and in resins of circuit boards29,30,31. Most of the lignin ...

Lignin is one of the vital load-bearing components of plant cell walls and the second most abundant polymer on Earth1. Chemically, lignin is a crosslinked heteropolymer made up of high molecular weight complex phenolic compounds that form a natural renewable source of aromatic polymers and synthesis of biomaterials2,3. This natural polymer plays significant roles in plant growth, development, survival, mechanical support, cell wall rigidity, water transport, mineral transport, lodging resistance, tissue and organ development, deposition of energy, and protection from biotic and abiotic stresses4,5,6,7. Lignin is primarily composed of three different monolignols: coniferyl, sinapyl and p-coumaryl alcohols that are derived from the phenyl propanoid pathway8,9. The amount of lignin and the composition of monomers vary based on the plant species, the tissue/organ type, and different stages of plant development10. Lignin is broadly classified into softwood, hardwood, and grass lignin based on the source and monolignol composition. Softwood is primarily composed of 95% coniferyl alcohol with 4% p-coumaryl and 1% sinapyl alcohols. Hardwood has coniferyl and sinapyl alcohols in equal proportions, while grass lignin is composed of various proportions of coniferyl, sinapyl and p-coumaryl alcohols11,12. The composition of monomers is critical as it determines the lignin strength, decomposition, and degradation of the cell wall as well as determining molecular structure, branching, and crosslinking with other polysaccharides13,14.
Lignin research is gaining importance in foraging, textile industries, paper industries, and for bioethanol, biofuel, and bio-products due to its low cost and high abundance15,16. Various chemical methods (e.g., acetyl bromide, acid detergents, Klason, and permanganate oxidation) along with instrumental methods (e.g., near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and ultraviolet (UV) spectrophotometry) were used for lignin quantification9,17. The analysis methods of lignin are generally classified based on electromagnetic radiation, gravimetry, and solubility. The principle behind lignin estimation by&#160;electromagnetic radiation was based on the&#160;chemical property of lignin by which it absorbs light at specific wavelengths. These results were estimated based on the principle that lignin has a stronger UV absorbance than carbohydrates. In 1962, Bolker and Somerville used potassium chloride pellets to estimate lignin content in wood18. However, this method has drawbacks in the estimation of lignin content from herbaceous samples due to the presence of non-lignin phenolic compounds and the absence of an appropriate extinction coefficient. In 1970, Fergus and Goring found that the guaiacyl and syringyl compound absorption maxima were at 280 nm and 270 nm, which corrected the extinction coefficient issue of the Bolker and Somerville method19. Later, infrared spectroscopy, a highly sensitive technique for characterizing phenolics, was also used for lignin estimation with a small amount of plant biomass samples. One example of such technology&#160;was diffuse-reflectance Fourier transform spectrophotometry. This method, however, lacks a proper standard similar to the UV method20. Later, the lignin content was estimated by NIRS (near infrared spectroscopy) and NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy). Though, there are disadvantages in these methods, they do not alter the chemical structure of lignin, retaining its purity20.
The gravimetric Klason method is a direct and the most reliable analytical method for lignin estimation of woody stems. The basis for gravimetric lignin estimation is the hydrolysis/solubilization of non-lignin compounds and the collection of insoluble lignin for gravimetry21. In this method, the carbohydrates are removed by hydrolysis of the biomass with concentrated H2SO4 to extract lignin residue20,22. The lignin content estimated by this method is known as acid insoluble lignin or Klason lignin. Application of the Klason method depends on the plant species, the tissue type and the cell wall type. The presence of variable amounts of non-lignin components such as tannins, polysaccharides and proteins, results in proportional differences in the estimation of acid insoluble/soluble lignin contents. Hence, the Klason method is only recommended for lignin estimation of high-lignin content biomass such as woody stems17,23. Solubility methods such as acetyl bromide (AcBr), acid-insoluble lignin, and thioglycolic acid (TGA) are most commonly used methods for estimation of the lignin content from various plant biomass sources. Kim et al. established two methods for lignin extraction by solubilization. The first method extracts lignin as an insoluble residue by solubilizing cellulose and hemicellulose, while the second method separates lignin in the soluble fraction, leaving cellulose and hemicellulose as the insoluble residue24.
Similar methods employed in lignin estimation based on the solubility are thioglycolic acid (TGA) and acetyl bromide (AcBr) methods25. Both TGA and acetyl bromide methods estimate the lignin content by measuring the absorbance of the solubilized lignin at 280 nm; however, the AcBr method degrades xylans during the process of lignin solubilization and shows a false increase in the lignin content26. The thioglycolate (TGA) method is the more reliable method, as it depends on specific bonding with the thioether groups of benzyl alcohol groups of lignin with TGA. The TGA bound lignin is precipitated under acidic conditions using HCl, and the lignin content is estimated using its absorbance at 280 nm27. The TGA method has additional advantages of less structural modifications, a soluble form of lignin estimation, less interference from non-lignin components, and precise estimation of lignin due to specific bonding with TGA.
This TGA method is modified based on the kind of plant biomass sample used for lignin content estimation. Here, we modified and adapted the rapid TGA method of rice straws27 to cotton tissues to estimate the lignin content. Briefly, the dried powdered plant samples were subjected to protein solubilization buffer and methanol extraction to remove proteins and the alcohol soluble fraction. The alcohol insoluble residue was treated with TGA and precipitated lignin under acidic conditions. A lignin standard curve was generated using commercial bamboo lignin and a regression line (y = mx+c) was obtained. The &#34;x&#34; value uses average absorbance values of lignin at 280 nm, while &#34;m&#34; and &#34;c&#34; values were entered from the regression line to calculate unknown lignin concentration in cotton plant biomass samples. This method is divided into five phases: 1) preparation of plant samples; 2) washing the samples with water and methanol; 3) treatment of the pellet with TGA and acid to precipitate lignin; 4) precipitation of lignin; and 5) the standard curve preparation and lignin content estimation of the sample. The first two phases are primarily focused on the plant material preparation followed by water, PSB (protein solubilization buffer) and methanol extractions to obtain the alcohol insoluble material. Then, it was treated with TGA (thioglycolic acid) and HCl to form a complex with lignin in the third phase. At the end, HCl was used to precipitate lignin, which was dissolved in sodium hydroxide to measure its absorbance at 280 nm28.

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>BioSpectrophotometer kinetic</td>
			<td>Eppendorf kinetic</td>
			<td>6136000010</td>
			<td>For measuring absorbance at 280 nm</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Centrifuge</td>
			<td>Eppendorf</td>
			<td>5424</td>
			<td>For centrifuging&#160; samples</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Commercial bamboo lignin</td>
			<td>Aldrich</td>
			<td>1002171289</td>
			<td>Used in the preparation of the standard curve</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Distilled water</td>
			<td>Fischer Scientific</td>
			<td>16690382</td>
			<td>Used in the protocol</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Falcon tubes</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td>734-0448</td>
			<td>Containers for solutions</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Freezer mill</td>
			<td>Spex Sample Prep</td>
			<td>68-701-15</td>
			<td>For fine grinding of plant tissue samples</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Heat block/ Thermal mixer</td>
			<td>Eppendorf</td>
			<td>13527550</td>
			<td>For temperature controlled steps during lignin extraction</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Hotplate stirrer</td>
			<td>Walter</td>
			<td>WP1007-HS</td>
			<td>Used for preparation of solutions</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Hydrochloric acid (HCL)</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>221677</td>
			<td>Used in the protocol</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Incubator</td>
			<td>Fisherbrand</td>
			<td>150152633</td>
			<td>For thorough drying of plant tissue samples</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Measuring scale</td>
			<td>Mettler toledo</td>
			<td>30243386</td>
			<td>For measuring plant tissue weight, standards and microfuge tubes</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Methanol (100 %)</td>
			<td>Fischer Scientific</td>
			<td>67-56-1</td>
			<td>Used in the protocol</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Microfuge tubes (2 mL)</td>
			<td>Microcentrifuge</td>
			<td>Z628034-500EA</td>
			<td>Containers for extraction of lignin</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Plant biomass gerinder</td>
			<td>Hanchen</td>
			<td>Amazon</td>
			<td>Used for crushing dried samples</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>pH meter</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>AE150</td>
			<td>Measuring pH for solutions prepared for lignin extraction</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Temperature controlled incubator/oven</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>15-015-2633</td>
			<td>Used in the protocol</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Thioglycolic acid (TGA)</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>68-11-1</td>
			<td>Used in the protocol</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Vacuum dryer</td>
			<td>Eppendorf</td>
			<td>22820001</td>
			<td>Used for drying samples</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Vortex mixer</td>
			<td>Eppendorf</td>
			<td>3340001</td>
			<td>For proper mixing of samples</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

estimation of plant biomass lignin content using thioglycolic acid (tga)

Lignin is a natural polymer that is the second most abundant polymer on Earth after cellulose. Lignin is mainly deposited in plant secondary cell walls and is an aromatic heteropolymer primarily composed of three monolignols with significant industrial importance. Lignin plays an important role in plant growth and development, protects&#160;from biotic and abiotic stresses, and in the quality of animal fodder, the wood, and industrial lignin products. Accurate estimation of lignin content is essential for both fundamental understanding of the lignin biosynthesis and industrial applications of biomass. The thioglycolic acid (TGA) method is a highly reliable method of estimating the total lignin content in the plant biomass. This method estimates the lignin content by forming thioethers with the benzyl alcohol groups of lignin, which are soluble in alkaline conditions and insoluble in acidic conditions. The total lignin content is estimated using a standard curve generated from commercial bamboo lignin.

Two different cotton experimental lines were compared for differences in their lignin contents in different tissues. The extracted lignin content of each sample was measured at 280 nm and recorded its respective absorbance values. The average absorbance values of each biological replicate were compared against the regression line of the lignin standard curve (Table 2, Figure 3C). The regression line, y = mx + c, is used to calculate the unknown lignin content of the extracte...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Estimation of Plant Biomass Lignin Content using Thioglycolic Acid TGA at JoVE.com

Estimation of Plant Biomass Lignin Content using Thioglycolic Acid TGA

Here, we present a modified TGA method for estimation of lignin content in herbaceous plant biomass. This method estimates the lignin content by forming specific thioether bonds with lignin and presents an advantage over the Klason method, as it requires a relatively small sample for lignin content estimation.

Estimation of Plant Biomass Lignin Content using Thioglycolic Acid (TGA)

Lignin is a natural polymer that is the second most abundant polymer on Earth after cellulose. Lignin is mainly deposited in plant secondary cell walls ...

Lignin is a complex heteropolymer made up of three monolignols. It is the second most abundant polymer on earth next to cellulose. Here, we demonstrate thioglycolic acid method, which is the most reliable method for the estimation of lignin content.This method is based on the principle that lignin binds to thioglycolic acid through thioether bonds. Further, we divided this protocol into five phases. In the first phase, we prepare the plant material.In the second phase, we isolate the alcohol insoluble extract. In the third phase, we precipitate lignin using thioglycolic acid and acidic conditions. In the fourth phase, we prepare lignin standard curve using industrial bamboo lignin.Finally, in the fifth phase, we estimate the lignin content using the standard curve prepared in the fourth phase. Plant material is collected, flipped the pots to separate the roots, washed them thoroughly in water, air dried for two days, transferred them into labeled containers and incubated them in the incubator at 49 degrees centigrade for one week to 10 days. Using scissors, the tissue is further cut into 1 mm to 3 mm size pieces.Alternatively biomass grinder is used to crush the plant tissues. Use the root tissue Turn on the biomass grinder collect the crushed powder into pre-labeled containers. Similarly, repeat for the stem tissue and leaf tissue.The crushed powder is loaded into the grinding vase which are then placed in the freezer mill And run the freezer mill at the rate of 10 CP speed for three cycles. Weigh 20 mg of the ground tissue powder and transfer to a pre made 2ml tube. Make a note of the empty tube and the tube with tissue powder and the tissue powder in your lab notebook.Incubate the tubes with cap open at 60 degrees centigrade for one hour. After incubation, add 1.8 ml of water to each sample vortex centrifuge at 15, 000 RPM for 10 minutes. Discard the supernatant Add 1.8 ml of methanol.Vortex and incubate in a preheated 60 degrees centigrade block for 20 minutes After incubation centrifuge at 15, 000 RPM for 10 minutes. Repeat this step one more time. After centrifugation discard the supernatant and dry the pellets in the vacuum dryer for two to three hours or until the pallet is completely dry.Measure and record the weight of each tube in your lab notebook for the estimation of lignin content at the end. Also include positive control industrial bamboo lignin at this point starting from 0.5 mg to 4 mg in triplicates. Add 1 ml of 3 normal hydrochloric acid, along with hundred microliters of glycolic acid to each sample Vortex and incubate at 80 degrees centigrade for 3 hours.After 3 hours incubation transfer them to a rack and allow it to cool for 10 minutes. then centrifuge at 15, 000 RPM for 10 minutes. After centrifugation, the color of the solution looks like this.Discard the supernatant. Add 1 ml of water. Vortex Centrifuge at 15, 000 RPM for 10 minutes.Discard the supernatant. Add 1 ml of 1 normal sodium hydroxide. Vortex and incubate at 37 degrees centigrade shaker overnight.After overnight incubation centrifuge the tubes at 15, 000 RPM for 10 minutes. Transfer the supernatant fresh pre-labeled 2 ml tubes add 200 microliters of concentrated hydrochloric acid to the supernatant. Mix them by gentle inversion as shown here.Incubate them in the refrigerator at 4 degrees centigrade overnight. After incubation centrifuge at 15, 000 RPM for 10 minutes. Discard the supernatant.Add 1 ml of sodium hydroxide. Vortex and incubate in the shaker at room temperature for 10 to 15 minutes. Use spectrophotometer to collect the absorbance readings 280 nanometers, Take 2 microliters of sodium hydroxide as blank since the lignin precipitated is dissolved in sodium hydroxide.Make the blank to zero. Similarly, repeat for the samples. Use two microliters of each sample to collect the absorbance readings in your lab notebook.Take three readings for each sample for three technical replicates. In the first column, we have the sample number. In the second column, we have biological replicates where R1, R2, R3 represent three biological replicates of one experimental line.In the third column, we averaged the absorbance readings obtained at 280 nanometers. We calculated the lignin content in the fourth column using the formula y=mx-c where x is the average OD.m and c values are plotted from the regression line of the standard curve prepared. Fifth column is the weight after the methanol and water washes.So this is the way that is used for the estimation of lignin content in mg. So we divide the value obtained in the fourth column by fifth column to obtain the value per mg of lignin content in the sixth column. And this value is multiplied by 1000 in order to obtain per gram cell wall weight.And the percent lignin content is calculated by dividing this value by 1000 and multiplying by 100. Finally, we obtain the average lignin by averaging the lignin of three biological replicates of each experimental line which will be compared with average of another experimental line in the form of a bar graph to understand the differences in the lignin content. We can also apply student t-test to test their level of significance.In column A, we have commercial bamboo lignin, and then the weight of the bamboo lignin that was taken before TGA and their respective absorbance readings at 280 nanometers. These values in table A were used to plot a scattered graph in column B, which gives us the regression line with m and c values. In C, we compared the values obtained by using the standard curve and the industrial bamboo lignin experimental line one and two were compared in the form of a bar graph and the result is they show difference between each other.

Research

JoVE Journal

Biochemistry

High-throughput Screening of Carbohydrate-degrading Enzymes Using Novel Insoluble Chromogenic Substrate Assay Kits

Carbohydrates active enzymes (CAZymes) have multiple roles in vivo and are widely used for industrial processing in the biofuel, textile, detergent, paper ...

Combining Raman Imaging and Multivariate Analysis to Visualize Lignin, Cellulose, and Hemicellulose in the Plant Cell Wall

The application of Raman imaging to plant biomass is increasing because it can offer spatial and compositional information on aqueous solutions. The ...

Determination of the Glycogen Content in Cyanobacteria

Cyanobacteria accumulate glycogen as a major intracellular carbon and energy storage&#160;during photosynthesis. Recent developments in research have ...

High Throughput, Absolute Determination of the Content of a Selected Protein at Tissue Levels Using Quantitative Dot Blot Analysis (QDB)

High Throughput, Absolute Determination of the Content of a Selected Protein at Tissue Levels Using Quantitative Dot Blot Analysis QDB

Lacking a convenient, quantitative, high throughput immunoblot method for absolute determination of the content of a specific protein at cellular and ...

Spectrophotometric Determination of Phycobiliprotein Content in Cyanobacterium Synechocystis

Spectrophotometric Determination of Phycobiliprotein Content in Cyanobacterium Synechocystis

This is a simple protocol for the quantitative determination of phycobiliprotein content in the model cyanobacterium Synechocystis. Phycobiliproteins are ...

Affinity Purification of Chloroplast Translocon Protein Complexes Using the TAP Tag

Chloroplast biogenesis requires the import of thousands of nucleus-encoded proteins into the plastid. The import of these proteins depends on the ...

Using High Content Imaging to Quantify Target Engagement in Adherent Cells

Quantitating the interaction of small molecules with their intended protein target is critical for drug development, target validation and chemical probe ...

Using In Vitro Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer to Study the Dynamics Of Protein Complexes at a Millisecond Time Scale

Proteins are the primary operators of biological systems, and they usually interact with other macro- or small molecules to carry out their biological ...

Identifying Amino Acid Overproducers Using Rare-Codon-Rich Markers

To satisfy the ever-growing market for amino acids, high-performance production strains are needed. The amino acid overproducers are conventionally ...

Measuring Interactions between Fluorescent Probes and Lignin in Plant Sections by sFLIM Based on Native Autofluorescence

In lignocellulosic biomass (LB), the activity of enzymes is limited by the appearance of non-specific interactions with lignin during the hydrolysis ...