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Title: Investigating the Role of Extensin Proteins in Poplar Biomass Recalcitrance

Journal Article · · BioResources
 [1];  [2];  [3]
  1. Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins, CO (United States); USDA Agricultural Research Service, Fort Collins, CO (United States)
  2. National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
  3. Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins, CO (United States)
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The biological conversion of cellulosic biomass to biofuel is hindered by cell wall recalcitrance, which can limit the ability of cellulases to access and break down cellulose. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether hydroxyproline-rich cell wall proteins (extensins) are present in poplar stem biomass, and whether these proteins may contribute to recalcitrance. Three classical extensin genes were identified in Populus trichocarpa through bioinformatic analysis of poplar genome sequences, with the following proposed names: PtEXTENSIN1 (Potri.001G019700); PtEXTENSIN2 (Potri.001G020100); PtEXTENSIN3 (Potri.018G050100). Tissue print immunoblots localized the extensin proteins in poplar stems to regions near the vascular cambium. Different thermochemical pretreatments reduced but did not eliminate hydroxyproline (Hyp, a proxy for extensins) from the biomass. Protease treatment of liquid hot water-pretreated poplar biomass reduced Hyp content by a further 16% and increased subsequent glucose yield by 20%. These data suggest that extensins may contribute to recalcitrance in pretreated poplar biomass, and that incorporating protease treatment into pretreatment protocols could result in a small but significant increase in the yield of fermentable glucose.

Research Organization:
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Sustainable Transportation Office. Bioenergy Technologies Office
Grant/Contract Number:
AC36-08GO28308
OSTI ID:
1254919
Report Number(s):
NREL/JA-2700-66526
Journal Information:
BioResources, Vol. 11, Issue 2; Related Information: BioResources; ISSN 1930-2126
Publisher:
NC State UniversityCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

Cited By (3)

Phenolic cross-links: building and de-constructing the plant cell wall journal January 2020
Bioinformatic Identification and Analysis of Hydroxyproline-Rich Glycoproteins in Populus trichocarpa journal October 2016
Molecular Changes Concomitant with Vascular System Development in Mature Galls Induced by Root-Knot Nematodes in the Model Tree Host Populus tremula × P. alba journal January 2020

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Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
extensin
hydroxyproline-rich glycoprotein
cellulosic biofuel
biomass recalcitrance
acid fungal protease
poplar
pretreatment