Source: Good News Network
Scientists have discovered a new family of enzymes that could pave the way to converting plant waste into sustainable and high-value products such as fuel, nylon, plastics, chemicals.
The discovery was made by members of the same UK-US enzyme engineering team that, in April, improved a plastic-digesting enzyme, a potential breakthrough for the recycling of plastic waste.
The new enzymes can directly act on the building blocks of lignin: one of the main components of plants, which scientists have been trying for decades to break down efficiently.
“Enzymes are biological catalysts that can perform incredible reactions, breaking down some of our toughest natural and man-made polymers,” said Professor McGeehan of the University of Portsmouth.
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“To protect their sugar-containing cellulose, plants have evolved a fascinatingly complicated material called lignin that only a small selection of fungi and bacteria can tackle. However, lignin represents a vast potential source of sustainable chemicals, so if we can find a way to extract and use those building blocks, we can create great things.”
Lignin acts as scaffolding in plants and is central to water-delivery. It provides strength and also defense against pathogens.
“It’s an amazing material,” Professor McGeehan said. “Cellulose and lignin are among the most abundant biopolymers on earth….
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