Mapping of unstudied cellulose-degrading mechanisms in soil bacteria
Research Project, 2016
– 2018
Cellulose is produced by plants and other photosynthetic organisms and is the most abundant renewable source of carbon on the planet. Efficient utilization of cellulosic biomass is a promising route in developing a society free from fossil-based energy and materials. The highly recalcitrant crystalline structure of cellulose is however still a significant bottleneck when it comes to enzymatic degradation into fermentable glucose, and thus new and better enzymes are highly desirable.
In this project, the enzymes produced by certain cellulolytic soil bacteria are mapped through -omics techniques. The studied bacteria lack certain typical cellulose-degrading enzymes, and as such they are able to deconstruct cellulose crystals by a so far unknown mechanism, which might be utilized in bioenergy applications.
Participants
Johan Larsbrink (contact)
Chalmers, Life Sciences, Industrial Biotechnology
Marcel Taillefer
Chalmers, Life Sciences, Industrial Biotechnology
Collaborations
Norwegian University of Life Sciences
Ås, Norway
University of Wisconsin Milwaukee
Milwaukee, USA
Funding
Swedish Energy Agency
Project ID: 2015-009561
Funding Chalmers participation during 2016–2018
Related Areas of Advance and Infrastructure
Sustainable development
Driving Forces