Researchers engineered microbes to better convert inexpensive, woody plants into lactic acid. Researchers working with the Center for Bioenergy Innovation have engineered a microbe to better produce lactic acid, which is valuable both economically and environmentally. A bacterium that was improved using laboratory-assisted evolution could eventually help supply the rapidly expanding lactic acid market. Beyond […]
Because next-generation biofuels will depend on the growth and hardiness of woody feedstocks, scientists have sought to better understand how leaf cells quickly respond to environmental cues such as light, temperature and water. These rapid responses take the form of “post-translational modifications” that occur when a plant cell chemically modifies a protein to alter its […]
CBI scientists identified an enzyme that breaks down a major component of several industrial lignin streams. Scientists collaborating through the Center for Bioenergy Innovation have identified a microbial pathway responsible for breaking down the tough components of feedstocks used to make biofuel. Lignin, a complex polymer that gives plant cell walls their structure and strength, […]
A greater understanding of pectin can inform efforts to break down plants into renewable fuels and bioproducts.
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm visited Oak Ridge National Laboratory on Nov. 22 for a two-hour tour, meeting top scientists and engineers as they highlighted projects and world-leading capabilities that address some of the country’s most complex research and technical challenges.
Carrie Eckert applies her skills as a synthetic biologist at Oak Ridge National Laboratory to turn microorganisms into tiny factories that produce a variety of valuable fuels, chemicals and materials for the growing bioeconomy.
