Cellulose breakthrough ‘could improve biofuel production’

Scientists are looking into a biological process that could improve the production of biofuel, as well as helping to better fight bacteria.

The new research is investigating how cells extrude cellulose, as understanding the production and deposition of cellulose could lead to new ways to tear down cell walls or create plants that have weaker walls.

Cellulose is the main component of plants’ cell walls.

The US Department of Energy has been looking for easier ways to better break down plant cells, as this is key to the easier production of biofuels. As such, this research, from the University of Virginia, is likely to be of much interest to them.

In the research, which is published in the journal Nature, researchers also note that the findings could offer new targets for combating bacteria and the spread of infections.

As well as being the main component in cell walls, cellulose is one of the substances that bacteria produce to create strong, spongy coatings known as biofilms. These biofilms enable bacteria to clump together and cling onto surfaces.

Research Jochen Zimmer said: “If we can prevent biofilm formation, we would expect to make it easier to get rid of the bacteria—to actually kill it.

“And you could also prevent them from adhering to the surgical devices and other tools used in hospitals.”

As part of the research, the scientists first mapped out the three dimensional architecture of the enzyme complex that is responsible to for cellulose production. This enabled them to discover which components were necessary to produce and secrete cellulose, thereby working out the structure of the enzyme complex.

It was discovered that new cellulose polymers are extruded from a cell using a channel, and this aspect is key to the formation of cellulose.