Iron Chelator-Mediated Anoxic Biotransformation of Lignin by Novel sp., Tolumonas lignolytica BRL6-1

Lignin is the second most abundant carbon polymer on earth and despite having more fuel value than cellulose, it currently is considered a waste byproduct in many industrial lignocellulose applications. Valorization of lignin relies on effective and green methods of de-lignification, with a growing interest in the use of microbes. Here we investigate the physiology and lignin biotransformation mechanisms of the novel facultative anaerobic bacterium, Tolumonas lignolytica BRL6-1, under anoxic conditions. Physiological and biochemical changes were compared between cells grown anaerobically in either lignin-amended or unamended conditions. In the presence of lignin, BRL6-1 had a higher biomass and shorter lag phase compared to unamended conditions, and 14% of the proteins determined to be significantly higher in abundance by log 2 fold-change of 2 or greater were related to Fe(II) transport in early exponential phase. Ferrozine assays of the supernatant (