Research abstract
Brief Communications abstract
Nature Biotechnology 25, 759 - 761 (2007)
Published online: 17 June 2007 | doi:10.1038/nbt1316
Lignin modification improves fermentable sugar yields for biofuel production
Recalcitrance to saccharification is a major limitation for conversion of lignocellulosic biomass to ethanol. In stems of transgenic alfalfa lines independently downregulated in each of six lignin biosynthetic enzymes, recalcitrance to both acid pretreatment and enzymatic digestion is directly proportional to lignin content. Some transgenics yield nearly twice as much sugar from cell walls as wild-type plants. Lignin modification could bypass the need for acid pretreatment and thereby facilitate bioprocess consolidation.
- Plant Biology Division, Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, 2510 Sam Noble Parkway, Ardmore, Oklahoma 73401, USA.
Correspondence to: Richard A Dixon1 e-mail: radixon@noble.org
Correspondence to: Fang Chen1 e-mail: fchen@noble.org
MORE ARTICLES LIKE THIS
These links to content published by NPG are automatically generated.
NEWS AND VIEWS
Loosening lignin's grip on biofuel productionNature Biotechnology News and Views (01 Jul 2007)
From rags to richesNature Biotechnology Research News (01 Jun 2002)
RESEARCH
Repression of lignin biosynthesis promotes cellulose accumulation and growth in transgenic treesNature Biotechnology Research Article (01 Aug 1999)
The draft genome of the transgenic tropical fruit tree papaya (Carica papaya Linnaeus)Nature Letters to Editor (24 Apr 2008)
See all 5 matches for Research
