Variations in Lignin: What do Recent Studies on Lignin-Biosynthetic-Pathway Mutants and Transgenics Reveal about Lignification?

traditional paradigm for lignification. Our view is in sharp contrast with a recent model of lignin biosynthesis requiring template dependent stereospecific control of lignin polymerization (Lewis and Davin 1998, Davin et al. 1997) [see p. 33]. Structural information has long been used to guide the search for underlying mechanisms for important biological processes, and the biosynthesis of lignin is no exception. The combination of current methods of structural chemistry, biochemistry, cell biology and genetics should continue to elucidate the nature and origin of the lignin polymer.