Summary
In Lesson 5.1, we went over the requirements for the final project. In a future lesson, you will be expected to choose your biomass and outline your project.
Lesson 5.2 provided an overview of lignocellulosic biomass structure in greater depth than the previous lesson did. The greater depth is needed in order to understand how the enzymes work. You are expected to understand what lignocellulosic biomass is and how the components can break apart (i.e., what the fragments are chemically).
Lesson 5.3 discussed the basic composition of enzymes, how cellulosic enzymes (cellulases) work, and how hemicellulosic and lignitic enzymes work. The homework provided a background of what you need to know about enzymes.
Lesson Objectives
By the end of this lesson, you should be able to:
- explain the requirements for the final report;
- recall the biochemistry of starch and lignocellulosic biomass, as well as go into greater depth on each of these components;
- discuss the basic biochemistry of enzymes;
- evaluate how the enzymes work, and on certain biomass parts, particular enzymes are used, and products that are made.
References
M. Bembenic and C.E.B. Clifford, “Subcritical water reactions of model compounds for a hardwood-derived Organosolv lignin with nitrogen, hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide gases,” Energy Fuels, 27 (11), 6681-6694, 2013.
David Hodge, Wei Liao, Scott Pryor, Yebo Li, Enzymatic Conversion of Lignocellulosic Materials: BEEMS Module B2, sponsored by USDA Higher Education Challenger Program 2009-38411-19761.
Lee Lynd, P.J. Weimer, W.H. van Zyl, I.S. Pretorius, “Microbial cellulose utilization: Fundamentals and biotechnology,” Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews, 66 (3), 506-577, 2002.
Gideon Davies and Bernard Henrissat, “Structures and mechanisms of glycosyl hydrolases,” Structure, 3, 853-859, 1995.
Alber, O., Dassa, B., and Bayer, E., “Cellulosome” within the CAZpedia website, 2010, accessed June 5, 2014.
Summa, A., Gibbs, M.D., and Bergquist, P.L., “Identification of novel β-mannan- and β-glucan-binding modules: evidence for a superfamily of carbohydrate-binding modules,” Biochem. J., 356, 791-798, 2001.
U.S. DOE, Breaking the Biological Barriers to Cellulosic Ethanol: A Joint Research Agenda. DOE/SC-0095, U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science and Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, 2006.
Reminder - Complete all of the Lesson tasks!
You have reached the end of the Lesson. Double-check the Road Map on the Lesson Overview page to make sure you have completed the activity listed there before you begin the next Lesson.
Questions?
If there is anything in the lesson materials that you would like to comment on, or don't quite understand, please post your thoughts and/or questions to our Throughout the Course Questions & Comments discussion forum and/or set up an appointment during office hours. While you are there, feel free to post responses to your classmates if you can help.