ARS | Publication request: Nanostructured enzyme assemblies for lignocellulosic biomass breakdown for bioproduct and bioenergy applications

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: January 25, 2012
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: Sufficient cellulosic biomass can be harvested to meet a significant fraction of America’s future liquid fuel needs without compromising the nation’s food supply. Low efficiency or high cost for conversion of cellulosic biomass to fermentable sugars is a major barrier to this goal. We will develop self-assembling nanostructured enzyme complexes to discover and characterize high activity enzyme complexes resulting from synergy among diverse biomass-degrading enzymes. We will furthermore identify different combinations of enzymes that most effectively hydrolyze different sources of biomass. The enzyme scaffolding technology is based on self-assembling protein systems engineered as templates for nanostructured materials. We will present our results of optimum cocktails of four enzymes for the hydrolysis of cellulose substrates. Furthermore, we will report data that indicates the importance of the specific enzymatic ratios within a cocktail.