Purdue researchers have discovered the structure of the enzyme that makes cellulose, a finding that could lead to easier ways of breaking down plant materials to make biofuels and other products and materials.
The research also provides the most detailed glimpse to date of the complicated process by which cellulose – the foundation of the plant cell wall and the most abundant organic compound on the planet – is produced.
“Despite the abundance of cellulose, the nitty-gritty of how it is made is still a mystery,” said Nicholas Carpita, professor of plant biology. “Now we’re getting down to the molecular structure of the individual enzyme proteins that synthesize cellulose.”
The findings could be used to redesign the structure of cellulose for different material applications, he said. For example, cellulose – the base for many textiles such as cotton and rayon – could be modified to better absorb dyes without chemical treatments. The structure of cellulose could also be altered to break down more easily for the production of cellulosic biofuels.
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