Polysaccharide recognition by microbial carbohydrate-binding modules

该研究计划的主题是蛋白质-碳水化合物识别，重点是碳水化合物结合模块（CBM）和碳水化合物活性酶（CAZymes）。我们的重点是坚定地放在植物细胞壁中多糖生物质的识别和降解。CBM和CAZymes是微生物酶的组成部分，其执行将植物细胞壁多糖还原为可代谢糖的第一步，从而释放光合固定碳。由于植物细胞壁多糖（地球上最丰富的生物聚合物）的再循环对碳循环至关重要，因此确定CBM和CAZymes的功能方面是一项重要的基本工作。此外，在一个温室气体水平不断上升、气候变化和油价上涨的世界里，人们的目光越来越多地转向“绿色”科学和替代燃料来源。 例如，纤维素酶和淀粉酶是一类含CBM的CA酶，其已被广泛用于分别将植物纤维素和淀粉转化为用于燃料的生物乙醇。CAZymes及其CBM将在将植物细胞壁多糖转化为替代燃料和环境友好的天然产品材料的过程中发挥越来越普遍的作用。研究，如这里提出的将提供一个基础，设计和/或改进这些过程。

The general theme of this research proposal is protein-carbohydrate recognition with a focus on carbohydrate-binding modules (CBMs) and carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes). Our focus is firmly placed on the recognition and degradation of the polysaccharide biomass in plant cell walls. CBMs and CAZymes are integral components of the microbial enzymes that perform the first step in reducing plant cell-wall polysaccharides to metabolizable sugars thus liberating photosynthetically fixed carbon. As the recycling of plant cell-wall polysaccharides, the most abundant biopolymers on Earth, is crucial to the carbon cycle, determining the functional aspects of CBMs and CAZymes is an important fundamental endeavour. Furthermore, in a world that is seeing rising levels of greenhouse gases, climate change, and rising oil prices eyes, are being increasingly turned to "green" science and alternative fuel sources. For example, cellulases and amylases are classes of CBM-containing CAZymes that have been extensively used in converting plant cellulose and starch, respectively, into bio-ethanol for use in fuels. CAZymes and their CBMs will find an ever more prevalent role in processes that turn plant cell-wall polysaccharides into alternative fuels and environmentally friendly natural product materials. Research such as that proposed here will provide a foundation for designing and/or improving these processes.