Polyphenol Oxidase Products Are Priming Agents for LPMO Peroxygenase Activity

Polyphenol oxidases catalyze the hydroxylation of monophenols to diphenols, which are reducing agents for lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs) in their degradation of cellulose. In particular, the polyphenol oxidase MtPPO7 from Myceliophthora thermophila converts lignocellulose-derived monophenols, and under the new perspective of the peroxygenase reaction catalyzed by LPMOs, we aim to differentiate the role of the catalytic products of MtPPO7 in priming and fueling of LPMO activity. Exemplified by the activity of MtPPO7 towards guaiacol and by using the benchmark LPMO NcAA9C from Neurospora crassa we show that MtPPO7 catalytic products provide the initial electron for the reduction of Cu(II) to Cu(I) but cannot provide the required reducing power for continuous fueling of the LPMO. The priming reaction is shown to occur with catalytic amounts of MtPPO7 products and those compounds do not generate substantial amounts of H O in situ to fuel the LPMO peroxygenase activity. Reducing agents with a low propensity to generate H O can provide the means for controlling the LPMO catalysis through exogenous H O and thereby minimize any enzyme inactivation.