Less Is More: Novel Cellulose Structure Requires Fewer Enzymes to Process Biomass to Fuel

Improved methods for breaking down cellulose nanofibers are central to cost-effective biofuel production and the subject of new research from Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) and the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC). Scientists are investigating the unique properties of crystalline cellulose nanofibers to develop novel chemical pretreatments and designer enzymes for biofuel production from cellulosic -- or non-food -- plant derived biomass.

Dahai Gao, Shishir P. S. Chundawat, Anurag Sethi, Venkatesh Balan, S. Gnanakaran, and Bruce E. Dale. Increased enzyme binding to substrate is not necessary for more efficient cellulose hydrolysis. PNAS, June 19, 2013 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1213426110