Corncob xylan characterization and valorization using synergistic and selective enzymatic degradation for xylooligosaccharides production

• Grant number: 25/28361-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date: June 01, 2026
• End date: May 31, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biophysics - Molecular Biophysics
• Principal Investigator: Igor Polikarpov
• Grantee: Caio Cesar de Mello Capetti
• Supervisor: Leonardo Dario Gomez
• Host Institution: Instituto de Física de São Carlos (IFSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: University of York, England
• Associated to the scholarship: 23/13115-2 - Structural and biochemical studies of Saccharum officinarum glycosil hydrolases involved in arabinoxylan degradation in the aerenchyma formation process, BP.DR

Abstract

Corncob is an abundant lignocellulosic biomass rich in xylan, whose highly branched structure decorated with arabinose, acetyl groups, glucuronic and hydroxycinnamic acids poses a challenge for efficient enzymatic hydrolysis. The controlled conversion of this polysaccharide into xylooligosaccharides (XOS) is of great biotechnological interest due to their prebiotic and antioxidant properties, but it requires not only endo-xylanases (EC 3.2.1.8), but also accessory enzymes such as arabinofuranosidases (EC 3.2.1.55), ¿-glucuronidases (EC 3.2.1.139), acetyl-xylan esterases (EC 3.1.1.72) as well as lytic polysaccharide monooxigenases (LPMOs) from AA9, AA10 and AA14 families. This project aims to structurally and chemically characterize xylan from corncob and wheat residues, evaluating combinations of xylanases and arabinofuranosidases from different GH families and auxiliary activities oxidative LPMOs to identify synergisms that maximize XOS yield. For this purpose, protocols for extraction and physicochemical characterization (HPAEC-PAD, NMR, FTIR), heterologous production of recombinant enzymes, hydrolysis assays on extracted xylan, and detailed analyses of the obtained oligomers will be conducted. The research internship at the University of York, under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Leonardo Gomez and Dr Federico Sabbadin, will provide access to advanced infrastructure and consolidated expertise in biorefinery, strengthening the international collaboration already established with the group. Thus, the project is expected to expand the results obtained in previous collaboration between laboratories in plant biomass enzymatic degradation and to generate knowledge applicable to the valorization of complex xylan, with broader scientific and biotechnological impacts on the research developed in Brazil. (AU)