Protein engineering plays a pivotal role in advancing the prospects of sustainable cellulosic biofuel production. As new methods and technologies emerge, researchers strive to modify enzyme properties for more efficient lignocellulose deconstruction, a critical step in bioethanol production. This article explores recent studies, strategies, and technologies that contribute to the development of a more sustainable […]
The pursuit of sustainable biofuel production from lignocellulosic materials relies heavily on the optimization of enzymes involved in biomass degradation. Directed evolution, a powerful tool in enzyme engineering, has been extensively applied to enhance the performance of key enzymes like endoglucanases (EGs), β-glucosidases (βGs), exoglucanases, hemicellulases, ligninolytic enzymes, and pectinases. This article explores the progress, […]
In the dynamic landscape of industrial biotechnology, the quest for optimal enzymes has taken a transformative turn with the advent of protein engineering. Leveraging molecular biology, protein biochemistry, and computational biology, scientists are delving into the intricate world of enzyme functionalities, aiming to create novel enzymes with unprecedented traits. This article meticulously examines two principal […]
In the ever-evolving realm of biotechnology, the quest for superior enzymes has emerged as a vibrant and dynamic area of research, fueling a relentless pursuit to overcome the limitations inherent in naturally occurring enzymatic processes. Over the past few decades, scientists and engineers have navigated a diverse landscape of methodologies to craft biocatalysts that not […]
Cellulases, a family of enzymes central to cellulolysis, play a pivotal role in the breakdown of cellulose. Classifiable into three distinct groups based on the catalyzed reaction, these enzymes offer a spectrum of functionalities crucial to various industrial applications. The three categories encompass carbohydrases, oxidative cellulases, and phosphorylases. Carbohydrases: Masters of Cellulose Hydrolysis Among cellulases, […]
In the pursuit of accessing energy from complex carbohydrate precursors, various evolutionary strategies have emerged. Unlike the intricate cellulosomal structures seen in some organisms, many aerobic microorganisms, including fungi (e.g., Trichoderma reesei) and bacteria (e.g., Thermobifida fusca), rely on the production of single enzyme components at high concentrations for the deconstruction of lignocellulosic materials. The […]
Clostridium thermocellum (C. thermocellum) is a standout thermophilic, spore-forming anaerobic bacterium renowned for its exceptional capacity to hydrolyze diverse substrates found in lignocellulosic biomass. The identification of the cellulosome in C. thermocellum represents a groundbreaking achievement in microbiology, especially due to its effectiveness in degrading crystalline cellulose. These cellulosomes, some exceeding 2 MDa and forming […]
The natural world exhibits an intricate balance in the mechanisms of biomass breakdown, where cellulosomes, prevalent in anaerobic bacteria, stand out as remarkably efficient compared to the free enzyme systems found in aerobic bacteria and fungi. This superiority in deconstructing plant structural polysaccharides is substantiated by empirical data, exemplified by the notable disparity in protein […]
In the intricate landscape of biomass degradation, the cellulosome emerges as a key player, residing on bacterial and fungal cell surfaces and orchestrating the deconstruction of plant cell wall lignocellulose (Lamed et al., 1983b). This complex extracellular protein assembly has captivated researchers with its modular architecture and multifaceted components. Cellulosome Composition At its core, the […]
In the intricate world of microbial biomass degradation, bacteria and fungi play a crucial role in breaking down lignocellulose present in plant cell walls. Unlike organisms capable of engulfing large particles, these microorganisms employ a strategy involving the secretion of enzymes, such as cellulases, to facilitate the degradation process. Divergent Approaches in Aerobic and Anaerobic […]