ARS | Publication request: Screening and characterization of hemicellulose-degrading enzymes

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: July 1, 2010
Publication Date: August 5, 2010
Citation: Lee, C.C., Wagschal, K.C., Orts, W.J. Screening and characterization of hemicellulose-degrading enzymes. 2010 SIM Annual Meeting and Exhibition; Abstract S160b: p101.

Technical Abstract: Hemicellulose is the second-most plentiful biomass source on the planet, and efficient utilization of this substrate is a major factor in the economic viability of a biorefinery. Hemicellulose is a complex polymer, and a wide array of enzymes is required in order to reduce the hemicellulose into fermentable sugars. We have developed different strategies and screens to isolate these hemicellulose-degrading enzymes. These assays have also been used to engineer enzymes with improved properties. We will describe the discovery, characterization, and genetic engineering of many of these enzymes, including endoxylanases, beta-xylosidases, and alpha-glucuronidases.