07/27/2009
Progress in Developing Highly Stable Enzymes for Biofuel Production
Summary
Large scale processing of biomass will require enzymes that work at the high temperatures to efficiently and effectively break down the biomass feedstock. Researchers at the DOE Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI) have just announced significant progress toward meeting this need by determining the three-dimensional structure of an enzyme that degrades cellulose at elevated temperatures. They observed unique structural features such as patterns of internal bonding and incorporation of metal ions that suggest how the enzyme retains its activity at high temperatures where the function of most enzymes is destroyed. The structural information is guiding bioengineering of new forms of the enzyme that will work at still higher temperatures or in harsh chemical environments and with enhanced efficiency.
References
Acta Crystallographica D, volume 65, pages 744-750 (August 2009)