2007 Research Highlights

Research Area:
Strategic Goal: 4
SPA: Resource Management and Use

Development of modular platforms for in vivo mapping of local metabolite concentrations important to cell wall degradation by microorganisms.

Key Contact: Chris Hunt, CGHunt@fs.fed.us
Partner: Department of Energy, University of Michigan

Plant cell walls are too dense to allow the enzyme penetration needed to saccharify the trapped carbohydrate, hindering our ability to convert plant material to liquid fuel or value added products. It would be useful to mimic the efficient mechanisms developed by fungi which have evolved the ability to disassemble lignocellulose and utilize all the carbohydrate. Unfortunately the mechanisms fungi use to decompose lignocellulose are still poorly understood, though reactive oxygen species (ROS) are clearly a principle component of these systems.

Several new probe molecules have recently been developed which, when incorporated into our sensors, allow us for the first time to map the concentration of specific reactive oxygen species at a micron scale in the acidic wood decay environment. These maps will help us to understand when, how, and where specific ROS are produced. This detailed knowledge of how fungi separate lignocellulosics will guide the development of new industrial methods for the same purpose.

US Department of Energy agreed to provide $271,000 to fund this project over 3 years.