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Forest Products Laboratory
One Gifford Pinchot Drive
Madison, WI 53726-2398
Phone: (608) 231-9200
Fax: (608) 231-9592
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Characterization of Microbial Biocatalysts in Lignocellulosic Utilization

Comparative expression levels of Paenibacillus sp JDR-2 polysaccharide utilization genes when grown on select plant-derived substrates. U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service.
Comparative expression levels of Paenibacillus sp JDR-2 polysaccharide utilization genes when grown on select plant-derived substrates. U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service.
Snapshot: Bioconversion of lignocellulosic biomass would benefit from development of second generation bacterial biocatalysts. The bacterium Paenibacillus sp. strain JDR2, originally isolated from decaying sweetgum wood disks, has the ability to process a variety of plant polysaccharides including starch, glucans, and xylans. Characterizing the genetic systems that function to allow for the efficient use of these biomass-derived polysaccharides may provide additional insight into the mechanisms for bioprocessing these substrates.
Summary:

Bioconversion of lignocellulosic biomass involves a number of specialized biological systems that degrade and transport plant polysaccharides. Understanding these enzyme and transport protein systems may allow development of biocatalysts for processing biomass, thereby achieving a considerable decrease in energy input. The bacterium Paenibacillus sp. strain JDR-2, isolated from decaying hardwood, has revealed several novel physiological characteristics in the efficient use of some biomass polysaccharides. Forest Service scientists analyzed the transcriptome of bacterium when grown on barley glucans, starch, and xylans from sweetgum and sorghum. This work identified the specific systems involved in the use of each of these substrates. These findings provide additional insight into approaches for biocatalyst development. Paenibacillus sp. Strain JDR-2 is a candidate for genetic engineering to create second generation bacterial biocatalysts, and biological subsystems of this bacterium may be used in other bacterial systems for the same genetic engineering purpose.		Princpal Investigator(s):
 St. Johns, Franz
 Crooks, M.E. Casey

Fiscal Year: 2016
Highlight ID: 663
 
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