Fluorescent enzymes

Rosie Ochoa
Advisor: Dr. Nancy Kravit

The purpose of this project is to use woody biomass efficiently by discovering enzymes that break ether bonds between lignin and hemicellulose. Wood has three major macromolecular components: cellulose, hemicelluloses and lignin. It is believed ether bonds between lignin and hemicelluloses are a primary reason for the strength of both hardwoods and softwoods and for the difficulty of fractionating wood into separate streams of cellulose, hemicelluloses and lignin.

There are several advantages having separate streams of cellulose, hemicelluloses and lignin. Cellulose is used for papermaking. Hemicellulose can be depolymerized into its component sugars and the sugars then used in fermentations to produce building blocks for polymers, fine chemicals, chiral chemicals, or biofuels. The remaining lignin stream can be burned for heat and energy or sold for synthesis of aromatic fine chemicals.

2009 REU Interview, July 20, 2009 – Rosie Ochoa

If you or your class has questions regarding this research or experience, please contact:

compgik@yahoo.com

Optimization of Soil Block Assay Techniques and the Analysis of the Effect of Fenton Chemistry on Cellulose Crystallinity by Stewart Gramlich & Dr. Jody Jellison

This research will investigate how various fungal species are able to colonize and chemically modify lignocellulose. Fungi best grow in dark wet environments and can be found anywhere organic material is present. Yeasts, mushrooms, and molds are examples of fungi. Fungi are usually aerobic, but some yeasts are able to anaerobically obtain energy via fermentation. Fungi, other than yeasts, are composed of many threadlike structures called hypha, which make up mycelium. This mycelium makes up molds and the nutrient gathering portion of mushrooms, which break down complex organic materials into their usable constituents.

Fungi have potential utilization in the processes of bioconversion because of their ability to produce enzymes and other metabolites that can break down lignocellulose into simple organic compounds and inorganic molecules, a process called biodegration. Simple organic compounds such as sugars can then go through the process of fermentation to produce ethanol. By looking at more aggressive fungal species and optimizing soil block assay techniques, more effective ways of breaking down lignocellulose can be identified. My work will focus on exploring the effects of soil characteristics, incubation times and water content of soil block assays on biodegradation rates. Irpex lacteus, Gloeophyllum trabeum, and Pictomyces sanguineus will be used to test decay rates in white pine blocks. I will also be involved in laboratory experiments looking at composite biodegradation and the effect of microbial colonization on cellulose crystallinity.

REU Interview Notes 07/10/07

Stewart Gramlich Interview Notes 07/10/07 (pdf file)