Lignocellulose biomass is considered as one of the most potential and sustainable sources for the production of value-added chemicals and fuels while replacing the traditional petroleum resources. In a biorefinery, by employing biochemical conversion processes,cellulose present in the biomass is broken down into monomeric sugars which can belater converted into fuels or chemicals. This process is done with the help of different cellulose digesting enzymes (cellulases), isolated from natural cellulolytic organisms suchas saprophytic fungi.

Lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs) are considered as one of the vital classesof enzymes in the bio-conversion of lignocellulose. They are copper active enzymes present naturally in cellulose degrading fungi. Unlike the traditional cellulases, they havea unique way of breaking cellulose using molecular oxygen or hydrogen peroxide as cosubstratein the presence of a reducing agent. Their ability to enhance the action of other cellulases in depolymerizing the cellulose, make them an integral part of today’s commercial cellulase cocktails.

This thesis comprises the study about the action of lytic polysaccharide monooxygenaseson various cellulose substrates, both model and natural. The first part of the thesis focuses on the ability of an LPMO (MtLPMO9) and a traditional cellulase (MtEG5A), to act insynergism. The evaluation was done based on the release of oxidized and non-oxidized sugars and also on the ability to liquefy the substrates. It was observed that together, these two enzymes resulted in enhanced release of oxidized and non-oxidized sugars. Both were able to reduce viscosity of the substrates but no further synergistic effect was observed when added together.

The second part focuses on the ability of LPMOs to accept electrons from lignins for their action of breaking cellulose chains. Three LPMOs, MtLPMO9, PcLPMO9D and NcLPMO9C, lignins from agricultural and forest biomass pretreated by various pretreatment methods were selected. It was demonstrated that lignins, both in isolatedand substrate bound form were able to act indirectly as reducing agents, by releasingsoluble low-molecular-weight molecules that act as mediators between enzyme and bulklignins. The structural and compositional properties of lignins also affected their ability toact as electron donors. In addition, the effect of biomass pretreatment methods on the lignin properties was also studied. The lignins from acid catalyzed organosolv pretreatment were found as the best candidates in supplying electrons to the enzymes.Interestingly, NcLPMO9C was not able to utilize lignins as electron donors requiring further investigation on their mechanism both in vivo and in vitro.

Increased environmental concerns over petroleum-based products triggered the quest to find a sustainable alternative for fuels, chemicals etc. Lignocellulose biomass, due to its abundance, is considered as one of the most promising sustainable sources for the production of fuels and chemicals, while replacing the traditional petroleum resources. In a biorefinery, by choosing a greener biochemical conversion process with cellulolytic enzymes, cellulose from biomass is depolymerized into monomeric sugars and residual fibers; which can be later converted into a spectra of value added products.

Lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs) are one of the essential groups of enzymes in the bioconversion of lignocellulose. They are copper active enzymes that are produced by different polysaccharide degrading organisms in nature, such as lignocellulolytic fungi. In lignocellulose degradation, they are different from the traditional hydrolytic cellulolytic enzymes with their unique way of oxidative breakage of cellulose, in the presence of a co-substrate such as oxygen, and a reducing agent like lignin in the biomass. Their ability to enhance the action of traditional cellulases in cellulose depolymerization make them an integral part of today’s commercial cellulosic cocktails.

Primary goals of biorefinery research include efficient liquefaction of lignocellulose in order to increase the release of monomeric sugars towards the production of various chemicals and fuels, together with the potential use of residual fibers for the production of value-added products; all by minimizing the release of undesired by-products and the environmental impact of the process. LPMOs, along with other cellulases, have been shown to be very much beneficial in this.

This thesis comprises the study of LPMOs from different fungal origin, in their depolymerization ability on various substrates, including both model substrates and natural biomass samples. The evaluation was done based on their ability to release neutral and oxidized sugars, as well as their capability to promote liquefaction. Effect of various pretreatment methods of lignocellulose on the action of LPMOs was studied, together with their capability to use lignin present in the wood as a reducing agent, which gives a better understanding about their function in nature. Lastly, their role in producing value added materials such as nanocellulose, the prebiotic disaccharide cellobiose, from lignocellulose was also evaluated.