Scientists engineer bacteria to make two valuable products from plant fiber Phys.org | Makemetechie.com Summary
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- "The amount of energy and greenhouse gas that you need to make two products in one pot is going to be less than running two pots to make one product in each pot..
- Yeast and bacteria can also convert plant sugars into biofuels and chemicals traditionally derived from fossil fuels—a key component of most plans to slow climate change.Now University of Wisconsin–Madison researchers have engineered bacteria that can produce two chemical products at the same time from underutilized plant fiber..
- "We're not going to solve our carbon emissions problem by only producing two products," says Ben Hall, a recent doctoral graduate who contributed to the research.Donohue's team used genomic modeling to come up with a list of potential products that could be made from biomass aromatics..
- Based on the bacteria's genome sequence, they suspected zeaxanthin is a stepping stone to that less valuable carotenoid in the process that cells use to make complex molecules..
- Just as with petrochemicals, every molecule counts: Low-volume, high-value products help keep fuel more affordable.One of the biggest barriers is a part of the plant cell wall called lignin..
- "Now that we've done this, I think it opens the door to see if we can create other microbial chassis that make two products..
We often look to the smallest lifeforms for help solving the biggest problems Microbes help make foods and beverages, cure diseases, treat waste and even clean up pollution. Yeast and bacteria can a [+5484 chars]
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