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Development of
High Throughput Methods for the Discovery of Enzymes Capable of Degrading
Crystalline Cellulose--Diversa
Corporation, 4955 Directors Place, San Diego, CA
92121-3829; 858-623-5151
Dr.
David L. Blum, Principal Investigator, dblum@diversa.com
Dr.
Jay M. Short, Business Official, jshort@diversa.com
DOE
Grant No. DE-FG03-02ER83395
Amount:
$100,000
The
production of bioethanol through higher catalytic rates of hydrolysis on
crystalline cellulose could be improved if new cellobiohydrolases and
endoglucanases enzymes could be found. This
project will develop high-throughput screening methods to discover new gene
encoding enzymes, endoglucanases and cellobiohydrolases, that can degrade
crystalline cellulose. Candidate
enzymes will be evaluated versus benchmark enzymes in order to determine
efficacy in the enzymatic hydrolysis of crystalline cellulose.
In Phase I, methods will be developed using a previously developed
technology to discover cellobiohydrolases.
Other
methods will be developed that focus on the detection of enzymes capable of
degrading crystalline cellulose.
Commercial
Applications and Other Benefits
as described by the awardee: The new
enzymes should be used to degrade plant biomass, namely cellulose, for the
retrieval of sugar monomers that would then be used for the production of
ethanol by microorganisms.