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Title: NREL Explains the Higher Cellulolytic Activity of a Vital Microorganism

Abstract

The discovery of a new mode of action by C. thermocellum to convert biomass to biofuels is significant because the bacterium is already recognized as one of the most effective in the biosphere. Researchers found that, in addition to using common cellulase degradation mechanisms attached to cells, C. thermocellum also uses a new category of cell-free scaffolded enzymes. The new discovery will influence the strategies used to improve the cellulolytic activity of biomass degrading microbes going forward. Better understanding of this bacterium could lead to cheaper production of ethanol and drop-in fuels. Also, this discovery demonstrates that nature's biomass conversion behaviors are not fully understood and remain as opportunities for future microbial/enzyme engineering efforts.

Publication Date:
Research Org.:
National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
OSTI Identifier:
1256238
Report Number(s):
NREL/FS-2700-66598
DOE Contract Number:  
AC36-08GO28308
Resource Type:
Program Document
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
09 BIOMASS FUELS; C.thermocellum; biomass; biofuel; bioenergy

Citation Formats

. NREL Explains the Higher Cellulolytic Activity of a Vital Microorganism. United States: N. p., 2016. Web.
. NREL Explains the Higher Cellulolytic Activity of a Vital Microorganism. United States.
. 2016. "NREL Explains the Higher Cellulolytic Activity of a Vital Microorganism". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1256238.
@article{osti_1256238,
title = {NREL Explains the Higher Cellulolytic Activity of a Vital Microorganism},
author = {},
abstractNote = {The discovery of a new mode of action by C. thermocellum to convert biomass to biofuels is significant because the bacterium is already recognized as one of the most effective in the biosphere. Researchers found that, in addition to using common cellulase degradation mechanisms attached to cells, C. thermocellum also uses a new category of cell-free scaffolded enzymes. The new discovery will influence the strategies used to improve the cellulolytic activity of biomass degrading microbes going forward. Better understanding of this bacterium could lead to cheaper production of ethanol and drop-in fuels. Also, this discovery demonstrates that nature's biomass conversion behaviors are not fully understood and remain as opportunities for future microbial/enzyme engineering efforts.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1256238}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 2016},
month = {Wed Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 2016}
}

Program Document:
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