"The concept of biomass to biofuel seems simple, but it is technically very difficult to release the sugars," noted Chang-Jun Liu, a senior plant biologist at Brookhaven Lab who led the study.
Plant biomass is full of energy-rich complex sugar molecules generated from photosynthesis. Each plant cell is surrounded by a rigid cell wall made of sugars and a material called lignin that provides structural support. Reducing lignin to gain access to the sugars has been the focus of research aimed at using plants to generate fuels and other products commonly made from petroleum.
For nearly 15 years, Liu has been tackling this problem using engineered enzymes called monolignol 4-O-methyltransferases (MOMTs). These enzymes, which do not exist in nature, are designed to alter the chemical structure of monolignols-the main building blocks of lignin. Changing the structure of the building blocks prevents them from linking together, which reduces the lignin content of plants and makes the sugars more accessible.
In prior work, Liu and his colleagues successfully expressed MOMTs in poplar trees. These enzymes reduced the trees' lignin content and enabled more abundant sugar release from the plants. In the new research, they tested the potential applications of the MOMT enzymes in grass plants, which have an abundant biomass yield. Grasses can also grow in harsh environments, such as on soils deficient in water or nutrients. Cultivating engineered plants in such environments could potentially produce large amounts of biomass optimized for conversion to fuel and bioproducts-without competing for land needed to produce food crops.
"However, grass plant cell walls, like those from the rice plants that we studied, are even more complicated in terms of structure and composition," explained Nidhi Dwivedi, Brookhaven Lab research associate and lead author on the new paper. In addition to sugar and lignin, grass plant cell walls also contain additional phenolic compounds that "cross-link" the cell wall components, making them even stronger and harder to break down.
"The complexity of grass plant cell walls made us curious as to whether our enzymes would improve sugar recovery," noted Liu. "We wanted to know if MOMTs could modify the grass cell walls in a way that would provide access to the biomass."
Less Lignin, More Sugars
Liu and Dwivedi chose to focus on two versions of the enzyme for this study-MOMT4 and MOMT9-each of which were designed to modify a different lignin subunit.
Working with collaborators from Kyoto University in Japan, Liu's team conducted chemical analyses on rice plants engineered to express either MOMT4 or MOMT9. These studies showed there was less lignin in the modified grass plants compared to unaltered plants. Collaborators from Appalachian State University in North Carolina examined sections of the modified plant stems using scanning electron microscopy and observed changes that were consistent with the chemical analyses.
"Throughout the stem, the cell walls appeared thinner," said Dwivedi. "And in some cells the walls even looked deformed or buckled."
With less lignin in the cell walls, the scientists were able to collect up to 30% more sugar from plants expressing MOMT4 and up to 15% more sugar in plants expressing MOMT9, compared to unaltered plants. Through a process called fermentation, this sugar can be converted into biofuels like ethanol, which is a common additive used to lower the fossil fuel content of gasoline.
Surprisingly Promiscuous Enzymes
Enzymes-molecules that generally facilitate chemical reactions-commonly target just one type of molecule. MOMT4 and MOMT9 were designed to act upon monolignols. But when Liu and his colleagues ran tests on these enzymes, the results revealed that these engineered enzymes exhibited "promiscuity." In addition to acting on the monolignols, both MOMTs acted on other cell wall components-the cross-linking phenolics and also a phenolic called tricin, which is a lignin precursor unique to grass plants.
When these enzymes were expressed in rice plants, they made the expected structural changes to the traditional lignin building blocks, and thus reduced the plants' overall lignin content. But by changing the structures of the cross-linking phenolics and tricin, the MOMTs also reduced the incorporation of those compounds into the cell walls further weakening them. The scientists also found an accumulation of modified phenolics in the rest of the plant tissue that was not present in unaltered plants.
"This was quite a difference from what we saw when we expressed the same enzymes in poplar trees," noted Liu. "The broader effects of expressing the enzymes really surprised us. Overall, the changes were positive in terms of optimizing sugar yield from grass cell walls. But there were also some unintended effects."
For example, plants expressing MOMT9 did not grow as tall as the unaltered plants, reducing the quantity of biomass from which sugar could be accessed. The plants also failed to produce seeds, which would be a problem if the scientists want the modified plants to reproduce as a sustainable source of biofuel sugars.
To address these challenges, the scientists plan to explore methods for controlling how lignin gets modified in different parts of the plant. For example, if the scientists can reduce lignin levels everywhere in the plant other than the reproductive organs, they could maximize the ability to extract sugars without affecting the fertility of the plants.
The scientists also want to see if their MOMT enzymes can optimize sugar yields from other grass plant species.
"After seeing the effectiveness of this enzyme technology in rice, we are confident that it can be used to modify other grass energy crops like sorghum and bamboo," Liu said.
"Biofuels are a promising alternative to non-renewable energy sources," Dwivedi added, "This study provides insights into how scientists can optimize the release of sugar that is present in cell walls, thus overcoming some of the waste that occurs with unmodified biomass crops."
This work was primarily funded by the DOE Office of Science.
Research Report:Simultaneous suppression of lignin, tricin and wall-bound phenolic biosynthesis via the expression of monolignol 4-O-methyltransferases in rice
Relevance Ratings:
1. Energy Industry Analyst: 9/10
2. Stock and Finance Market Analyst: 7/10
3. Government Policy Analyst: 8/10
Analyst Summary:
The recent article details a promising advance in biofuel technology led by plant biologists at the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory. By engineering enzymes that modify grass plant cell walls, scientists have made strides in efficiently converting biomass into biofuels and bioproducts. The use of engineered enzymes called monolignol 4-O-methyltransferases (MOMTs) has shown to reduce lignin content, facilitating easier access to fuel-generating sugars. MOMTs were successfully tested on poplar trees in previous research and have now shown efficacy on grass plants as well. This could be groundbreaking, as grasses have abundant biomass yields and can grow in harsh environments without competing for arable land.
For Energy Industry Analysts:
The research stands as a significant development in the renewable energy sector, particularly in biofuels, which have been viewed as alternatives to fossil fuels. The new technique could drastically cut the costs and improve the efficiency of biofuel production, affecting the competitive landscape in the energy industry.
For Stock and Finance Market Analysts:
Companies invested in biofuel production or enzyme engineering may see a significant uptick in their stock prices as this technology gets closer to commercialization. This development could also threaten traditional fossil fuel companies in the long term, leading to possible market shifts.
For Government Policy Analysts:
The research has immediate implications for energy policies focused on reducing carbon emissions and increasing energy security. Government agencies, especially those in countries highly dependent on fossil fuels, may look to incentivize further research in this area or consider regulatory frameworks to facilitate biofuel production.
25-Year Trend Analysis:
The last 25 years in the energy sector have been marked by a growing focus on renewable energy, with biofuels considered a viable alternative to petroleum-based fuels. However, high production costs and technical challenges have impeded their widespread adoption. This research seems to mitigate these longstanding issues, signaling a potentially transformative moment in the renewable energy landscape.
Investigative Questions for Analysts:
1. How does this research compare with other current methods of biofuel production in terms of cost and efficiency?
2. What would be the environmental impact of large-scale biomass farming for biofuel production?
3. Could this enzymatic technology be applied to other renewable energy sectors or industries?
4. What regulatory barriers might hinder the commercialization of this biofuel technology?
5. How could this development influence global geopolitics concerning energy security and environmental commitments?
Overall, this study holds significant implications for various stakeholders and could shape the future landscape of energy production and consumption.
Related Links
Brookhaven National Laboratory
Bio Fuel Technology and Application News
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