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Currently, most bioethanol is made out of sugar derived from corn kernels (at least in the United States) in large bioreactors -- vats filled with microorganisms that convert sugar to fuel. Turning corn kernels into fuel has several disadvantages, most notably it drives up food prices, thereby weakening the food supply to vulnerable regions. Whoever cracks the cellulose code stands to circumvent those problems, and make a lot of money, by potentially turning everything from corn stalks, sawgrass, paper, and other cellulose-based items into fuel. The enzymes produced by T. reesei are most effective at breaking cellulose down, so scientists expected a large portion of the fungus' genome to be devoted to this process. But the scientists got a surprise: Only about 5 to 6 percent of T. reesei's genome appeared to be involved. The next step is to figure out how the fungus manages the conversion so efficiently. Understanding the process could help streamline ethanol production. "It's a really cool mystery," said Stajich. The research is reported in the current issue of Nature Biotechnology. Related Links: |
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