ARS | Publication request: Developing enzyme systems for biomass deconstruction

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: January 18, 2007
Publication Date: March 29, 2007
Citation: Wong, D., Lee, C.C., Wagschal, K.C., Smith, M.R., Robertson, G.H., Orts, W.J. 2007. Developing enzyme systems for biomass deconstruction. Meeting Abstract. Paper No. 217

Technical Abstract: The conversion of agricultural crops and residues to fermentable feedstock for the production of bioethanol represents a major source of renewable energy. The key to economically viable and effective biomass conversion includes the development of novel enzymes and enzyme systems to achieve total deconstruction of the plant cell wall. The WRRC enzyme group is focusing on the use of molecular biology techniques to discover, express, and engineer enzymes for the complete degradation of the hemicellulose fraction in plant cell walls. We construct and screen metagenomic libraries to isolate novel genes, clone and express them in E. coli or yeast systems, and characterize the enzymes for mutagenic improvement and evaluation. The xylanolytic enzymes currently under development include: endo-beta-1,4-xylanase, beta-xylosidase, alpha-L-arabinofuranosidase, alpha-glucuronidase, acetylxylan esterase, and feruloyl esterase. Enzyme systems consisting of various combinations of individual enzymes are to be integrated into yeast for simultaneous conversion and fermentation.