Studies of the cellulolytic enzymes with potential in the enzymatic transformation of the sugarcane biomass using Small Angle X-ray Scattering

• Grant number: 10/16542-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: December 01, 2010
• End date: October 31, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Molecular Biology
• Principal Investigator: Igor Polikarpov
• Grantee: Mario de Oliveira Neto
• Host Institution: Instituto de Física de São Carlos (IFSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 08/56255-9 - Structure and function of enzymes and auxiliary proteins from Trichoderma, active in cell-wall hydrolysis, AP.BIOEN.TEM

Abstract

Concern for the environment, plus the depletion of fossil fuels has generated great interest among various sectors of society, making the ways of producing biofuels more affordable and efficient. The use of ethanol from renewable raw materials, such as sugarcane bagasse, represents a potential alternative source of energy, and it has been considered feasible and promising in Brazil. However, to make possible the use of biomass it is necessary to degrade cellulose, a constituent of the cell wall, to fermentable sugars. One form of degradation is the enzymatic hydrolysis, which is quite advantageous in many respects, especially as regards the use of "green chemistry". However, the use of enzymes for this purpose still presents high cost, which has led to more studies to make cellulosic ethanol economically viable. The structural knowledge of the enzymes as well as the interaction of these with the pre-treated bagasse from sugarcane during the hydrolysis is extremely important. Physical techniques such as small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), dynamic light scattering (DLS), circular dichroism (CD), fluorescence and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) are available for this purpose. To develop the project, close collaboration has been established with profs. Dr. Adilson Roberto Gonçalves (USP / Lorena) and Dr. George Jackson de Moraes Rocha (Centro de Ciência e Tecnologia do Bioetanol - CTBE), besides the infrastructure available in the Grupo de Biotecnologia Molecular (FFI / BM) under the coordination of prof. Dr. Igor Polikarpov (USP / São Carlos), also coordinator of FAPESP Thematic Project "Structure and Function of Enzymes and Proteins from Trichoderma Auxiliary, Active in Cell-Wall Hydrolysis,". Thus, this study aims at understanding the molecular basis of the functioning of enzymes for application in the production of bioethanol from sugarcane bagasse and will be held in sync with the theme of this FAPESP project and under INCT Bioethanol (Coord. Prof. Dr. Marcos Buckeridge) which our group is part.

Scientific publications

(4)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

COLUSSI, FRANCIELI; GARCIA, WANIUS; ROSSETO, FLAVIO RODOLFO; SOARES DE MELLO, BRUNO LUAN; DE OLIVEIRA NETO, MARIO; POLIKARPOV, IGOR. Effect of pH and temperature on the global compactness, structure, and activity of cellobiohydrolase Cel7A from Trichoderma harzianum. EUROPEAN BIOPHYSICS JOURNAL WITH BIOPHYSICS LETTERS, v. 41, n. 1, p. 89-98, JAN 2012. (10/08370-3, 09/54035-4, 10/16542-9)

ROSSETO, FLAVIO RODOLFO; MANZINE, LIVIA REGINA; NETO, MARIO DE OLIVEIRA; POLIKARPOV, IGOR. Biophysical and biochemical studies of a major endoglucanase secreted by Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris.. Enzyme and Microbial Technology, v. 91, p. 1-7, SEP 2016. (10/08370-3, 09/54035-4, 10/16542-9, 08/56255-9)

LIMA, MARISA A.; OLIVEIRA-NETO, MARIO; KADOWAKI, MARCO ANTONIO S.; ROSSETO, FLAVIO R.; PRATES, ERICA T.; SQUINA, FABIO M.; LEME, ADRIANA F. P.; SKAF, MUNIR S.; POLIKARPOV, IGOR. Aspergillus niger beta-Glucosidase Has a Cellulase-like Tadpole Molecular Shape INSIGHTS INTO GLYCOSIDE HYDROLASE FAMILY 3 (GH3) beta-GLUCOSIDASE STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION. Journal of Biological Chemistry, v. 288, n. 46, p. 32991-33005, NOV 15 2013. (09/54035-4, 10/16542-9, 08/56255-9)

MAZIERO, PRISCILA; DE OLIVEIRA NETO, MARIO; MACHADO, DOUGLAS; BATISTA, TATIANA; SCHMITT CAVALHEIRO, CARLA CRISTINA; NEUMANN, MIGUEL G.; CRAIEVICH, ALDO FELIX; DE MORAES ROCHA, GEORGE JACKSON; POLIKARPOV, IGOR; GONCALVES, ADILSON ROBERTO. Structural features of lignin obtained at different alkaline oxidation conditions from sugarcane bagasse. INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS, v. 35, n. 1, p. 61-69, JAN 2012. (09/00874-5, 10/16542-9)