ligninens
Ligninens is a term used to describe a proposed clade of lignin-degrading microorganisms that includes several fungal and bacterial lineages capable of breaking down lignin, the complex aromatic polymer found in plant cell walls. The designation is typically used in functional and metagenomic studies to group organisms enriched for lignin-utilizing pathways rather than to imply formal taxonomic rank.
Taxonomy and status: Ligninens is not universally recognized as a formal taxon. Researchers describe it as
Habitat and distribution: Members of the Ligninens concept have been detected in a variety of environments
Enzymatic traits: Ligninens representatives typically express oxidative enzymes such as lignin peroxidase, manganese peroxidase, laccase, and
Ecological role: In ecosystems, Ligninens-like organisms contribute to the decomposition of recalcitrant lignin, influencing the rate
Applications: The concept attracts interest for biotechnological lignin valorization, including enzymatic depolymerization for biofuel feedstocks and
Research status: The term arose from metagenomic and genomic data analyses in the late 2010s and remains