Imaging Lignin Degradation: Bio-Prospecting for New Enzymes for Use In Biofuel Production
- Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park, PA (United States); The Pennsylvania State University
- Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park, PA (United States)
The proposed research aimed at developing emission computed tomography (PET) technology to visualize the degradation of lignin, a process of central importance to biomass utilization. It is in response to a need in this area: little is known about the degradation of lignin outside of pure culture studies (with isolated microbes in the lab). In nature, due to its size, lignin must first be depolymerized to small fragments through an extracellular process. These smaller fragments are then further degraded inside the cell, sometimes to CO2. As such, our research will aim at detecting two different chemical processes: i) lignin depolymerization and ii) further degradation of the lignin-derived aromatic compounds (LDACs). The first process (lignin depolymerization) was detected i) with a chemistry-triggerable visualization assay that uses a fluorescent technique and ii) also a PET method. Since the second process (degradation of depolymerized lignin) takes place within a cell, the LDACs will be imported and bioaccumulate, therefore allowing the use of radiolabeled molecules and PET scan technology.
- Research Organization:
- Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park, PA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC)
- DOE Contract Number:
- SC0005267
- OSTI ID:
- 1506469
- Report Number(s):
- DOE-PSU--5267-FINAL
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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