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[Due to the increasing size of the archives, each topic page now contains only the prior 365 days of content. Access to older stories is now solely through the Monthly Archive pages or the site search function.]
VTT Launches European NEMO Project for Cellulosic Ethanol
August 26, 2009
| NEMO will focus on novel enzymes for hydrolysis and novel microorganisms for cellulosic ethanol production to identify the most eco-efficient and economic process options for cellulosic ethanol. Source: Universita Degli Studi di Milano. Click to enlarge. |
The VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland has launched, as co-ordinator, the NEMO project (Novel high performance enzymes and micro-organisms for conversion of lignocellulosic biomass to bioethanol), a collaborative research effort involving European research institutes and companies to develop technologies for the production of cellulosic ethanol.
The NEMO project, which has received funding of €5.9 million (US$8.4 million) from the EU’s FP7 (Seventh Framework Programme), is aimed at developing technologies to produce cellulosic ethanol from agricultural and forestry waste, such as straws and wood chips, via a fermentation pathway. Total cost of the project will be €8.2 million (US$11.7 million).
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Caltech Researchers Create Group of Synthetic, Thermostable Enzymes for Cellulosic Biofuel Production
March 24, 2009
| Portions of three natural fungal cellulase enzymes that have been recombined to produce a synthetic, thermostable cellulase are denoted by blue, green and red coloring. The recombined cellulase enzyme modeled here functions at higher temperatures than any of the three parents. Source: Caltech. Click to enlarge. |
Researchers at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) led by Frances H. Arnold, the Dick and Barbara Dickinson Professor of Chemical Engineering and Biochemistry at Caltech, and gene-synthesis company DNA2.0 have developed a new group of 15 highly stable fungal enzyme catalysts that efficiently break down cellulose into sugars at high temperatures for conversion into a variety of renewable fuels and chemicals.
Previously, fewer than 10 such fungal cellobiohydrolase II (CBH II) enzymes were known. In addition to their remarkable stabilities, Arnold’s enzymes degrade cellulose over a wide range of conditions. A paper on the work was published 23 March in the early edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
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Enzymatic Process Converts Cellulosic Materials and Water into Hydrogen at Low Temperature; Close to Theoretical Yield of H2 From Glucose
February 17, 2009
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| Hydrogen production from cellodextrin and water by a synthetic enzymatic pathway. Ye et al. (2009) Click to enlarge. |
Researchers at Virginia Tech, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), and the University of Georgia have produced hydrogen gas in a spontaneous, “one-pot” process using an enzyme cocktail, cellulosic materials from non-food sources, and water. The hydrogen yield was 11.2 moles per mole of anhydroglucose unit of cellobiose, corresponding to 93.3% of the theoretical yield of 12 moles. A paper on the work was published online in the journal ChemSusChem on 2 February.
In 2007, the researchers had reported the development of a novel method using a combination of 13 enzymes to form an unnatural enzymatic pathway to completely convert starch and water in one reactor into hydrogen. (Earlier post.)
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Genetic Analysis of Brown Rot Fungus Reveals Unique Enzyme Systems for Breaking Down Cellulose; Possible Application for More Efficient Cellulosic Biofuels Processes
February 05, 2009
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| Scanning electron micrograph showing the thread-like fungus ramifying through wood cells. Photo: Tom Kuster (FPL). Click to enlarge. |
An international team led by scientists from the US Department of Energy (DOE) Joint Genome Institute (JGI) and the US Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory (FPL) has analyzed the genome, transcriptome, and secretome of Postia placenta, a brown rot fungus, and found unique extracellular enzyme systems, including an unusual repertoire of extracellular glycoside hydrolases.
P. placenta rapidly deconstructs the cellulose in wood, but does so using different mechanisms than used by cellulolytic microbes; the genes encoding exocellobiohydrolases and cellulose-binding domains, which are typical of cellulolytic microbes, are absent in Postia. The research, conducted by more than 50 authors, is reported in the 4 February online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
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Protéus and Syngenta to Collaborate to Develop Enzymes for Cellulosic Biofuel Production
January 16, 2009
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| Directed evolution through gene shuffling. Source: Protéus. Click to enlarge. |
Protéus, a France-based biotechnology company, will collaborate with global agribusiness company Syngenta on the development of novel high-performance enzymes for cellulosic biofuel production.
Both diversity screening and directed evolution methods will be used for the discovery and the optimization of such targeted enzymes for the conversion of biomass into biofuels. Further details of the agreement were not disclosed.
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Researchers Modifying Poplar Tree Lignin Structure to Facilitate Processing for Cellulosic Biofuels
December 23, 2008
Researchers at Penn State University are modifying the structure of lignin—a polymer that is a major component of woody plant material—in poplar trees to facilitate its degradation for the subsequent processing of the woody biomass into liquid fuels. Lignin is woven in with cellulose and provides plants with the strength to withstand strong gusts of wind and microbial attack. However, this protective barrier also limits hydrolytic enzyme access to the cellulose and hemicellulose.
Researchers have previously tried to get around the problem by methods including treatment with lignin-degrading fungi and genetically decreasing the lignin content in plants. The first is at an early stage of development, and the second can lead to a variety of problems such as limp plants unable to stay upright, and plants more susceptible to pests.
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Researchers Engineer Bacteria to Produce Nonnatural Alcohols with Higher Energy Density
December 10, 2008
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| Schematic representation of the biosynthetic pathway of the 6-carbon alcohol 3-methyl-1-pentanol. The engineered nonnatural metabolic pathway is shaded in lavender. Click to enlarge. Credit: PNAS |
Researchers at UCLA have developed a nonnatural biosynthetic pathway enabling the bacteria Escherichia coli to produce various long-chain alcohols with carbon numbers ranging from 5 to 8. Higher carbon alcohols are attractive biofuel targets because they have higher energy density and lower water solubility. By way of comparison, ethanol has two carbons; butanol has four.
To demonstrate the feasibility of their approach, they optimized the biosynthesis of a 6-carbon alcohol: 3-methyl-1-pentanol. A paper on the work by Dr. James Liao and colleagues was published online 8 December in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
