Pectin research offers promise for medical applications of biofuel byproducts
A greater understanding of pectin can inform efforts to break down plants into renewable fuels and bioproducts.
Author: S. Heather Duncan
Scientists improve bacterial hardiness toward making valuable chemicals from lignin
Adaptive laboratory evolution experiments were used to increase the tolerance of successive generations of bacteria. Credit: Mohamed, E. et. al., Metabolic Engineering Communications. Excerpt of the original, used under CC by 4.0* Scientists collaborating through the Center for Bioenergy Innovation recently learned to use laboratory evolution and genetic engineering to develop a more robust strain […]
Taking the pulse of polysaccharides: Evaluating approaches to making high-value bioproducts
Scientists are using enzymes to build new materials from the polysaccharides available in plant biomass. Scientists collaborating through the Center for Bioenergy Innovation recently compiled research about new ways to turn plant polymers into environmentally friendly products. These plant-based materials are carbon-neutral, renewable and biodegradable, making them ideal for replacing petroleum-based plastics and chemicals. They […]
How trees respond to stress: Experiments find link between sugar and water transport in poplar
UGA graduate student Yen-Ho Chen evaluates poplar trees during a greenhouse experiment. Credit: Yen-Ho Chen/UGA A recent study funded through the Center for Bioenergy Innovation provided an enhanced picture of the function of a key protein in tree leaves. These findings build toward a broader effort to make trees more resilient to stress, such as […]
Researchers identify key trigger in creation of a valuable biofuel byproduct
At the University of North Texas, researcher Chunliu Zhuo conducts genotyping and lignin analysis to distinguish transgenic plants from non-transgenic plants. Credit: Chunliu Zhuo/University of North Texas Scientists working with the Center for Bioenergy Innovation are developing a deeper understanding of natural processes that could make biofuel byproducts more useful. Turning biomass into marketable products […]
Understanding microbe metabolism for more efficient ethanol production
A study coordinated by the Center for Bioenergy Innovation defined key differences between two bacteria, a critical step in bioengineering microbes to produce ethanol more efficiently. The two bacteria studied have different strengths related to biofuel production. The first, called Thermoanaerobacterium saccharolyticum, is relatively easy to genetically engineer so that it makes ethanol exclusively, without […]