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

Publications

More information

Latest update

8/1/2018 8