A new approach to a deep understanding of biomass recalcitrance

机构：华盛顿州立大学一种深入理解生物质可发酵性的新方法知识产权木质纤维素生物质对旨在将纤维素部分分解为可发酵糖的酶的抗性是生物质转化技术的生物过程工程平台开发中的一个长期存在的技术障碍。 复杂的底物和酶的相互作用的知识是必要的，以制定战略，以降低酶的成本，提高酶的性能。 这项研究的目的是通过创建一组新的生物质参考底物来展示一种新的方法来研究生物质的生物降解。 参比基质将具有完整的纤维结构以及在所有生物质纤维结构水平上均质且充分表征的化学和物理性质。 据推测，使用这些参考底物，系统地检查底物-酶的相互作用，将提供新的见解的基本问题的生物质降解。 本研究的具体目标是：1）制备参考底物，包括化学制浆/漂白的木质纤维素生物质、模型木质素-碳水化合物复合物和具有不同理化性质水平的纳米晶纤维素材料; 2）研究这些参考底物的酶水解特性; 3）通过X射线光电子能谱（XPS）和原子力显微镜（AFM）在纤维、纤维形貌、原纤维和分子水平上研究酶和底物的相互作用。 这项拟议研究的结果有可能帮助指导纤维素酶的遗传改良，以实现更有效的生物质转化过程。更广泛的影响拟议的教育和推广活动将集中在三个核心工作上： 1)培训来自代表性不足群体的本科生和研究生从事生物转化研究和开发; 2）与梅萨一起开发暑期课程（数学工程科学成就）计划在华盛顿州立大学，以促进清洁技术和生物量经济的认识在高中在亚基马谷和三城地区; 3）开发新的课程和教学模块，以有效地将生物质转化主题的知识转移到化学工程和生物系统工程教育。

Institution: Washington State UniversityTitle: A new approach to a deep understanding of biomass recalcitranceIntellectual MeritThe resistance of lignocellulosic biomass to enzymes designed to break down the cellulose fraction to fermentable sugars is a long-standing technical barrier in the development of bioprocess engineering platforms for biomass conversion technology. Knowledge of intricate substrate and enzyme interactions is needed to develop strategies to reduce enzyme cost by improving enzyme performance. The goal of this proposed research is to demonstrate a new approach to investigating biomass recalcitrance by creating a new set of biomass reference substrates. The reference substrates will possess an integral fiber structure as well as homogeneous and well-characterized chemical and physical properties across all biomass fiber structural levels. It is hypothesized that using these reference substrates to systematically examine substrate-enzyme interactions will provide new insights into fundamental issues underlying biomass recalcitrance. The specific objectives of proposed research are to: 1) prepare reference substrates, which include chemically-pulped/bleached lignocellulosic biomass, model lignin-carbohydrate composites, and nanocrystalline cellulosic materials with a diverse level of physiochemical properties; 2) study the enzymatic hydrolysis characteristics of these reference substrates; and 3) investigate enzyme and substrate interactions at fiber, fiber topographic, fibril, and molecular levels through X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Outcomes from this proposed research have the potential to help guide the genetic improvement of cellulase enzymes for more efficient biomass conversion process.Broader ImpactsThe proposed educational and outreach activities will focus on three core efforts: 1) training undergraduate and graduate students from underrepresented groups to pursue careers in bioconversion research and development; 2) development of a summer program with MESA (Mathematics Engineering Science Achievement) program at Washington State University to promote the awareness of clean technology and biomass economy at high schools in Yakima Valley and TriCities regions; 3) development of new courses and teaching module to effectively transfer knowledge from biomass conversion topics to chemical engineering and biosystems engineering education.