Recent patents on genetic modification of plants and microbes for biomass conversion to biofuels.
Development of sustainable energy systems based on renewable biomass feedstocks is now a global effort. Lignocellulosic biomass contains polymers of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, bound together in a complex structure. Liquid biofuels, such as ethanol, can be made from biomass via fermentation of sugars derived from the cellulose and hemicellulose within lignocellulosic materials, but pre-treatment of the biomass to release sugars for microbial conversion is a significant barrier to commercial success of lignocellulosic biofuel production. Strategies to reduce the energy and cost inputs required for biomass pre-treatment include genetic modification of plant materials to reduce lignin content. Significant efforts are also underway to create recombinant microorganisms capable of converting sugars derived from lignocellulosic biomass to a variety of biofuels. An alternative strategy to reduce the costs of cellulosic biofuel production is the use of cellulolytic microorganisms capable of direct microbial conversion of ligno-cellulosic biomass to fuels. This paper reviews recent patents on genetic modification of plants and microbes for biomass conversion to biofuels.
Department Bioresource Policy, Business and Economics, 51 Campus Drive, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7N 5A8, Canada.
Simona
S
Lubieniechi
Thinesh
T
Peranantham
David B
DB
Levin
D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D056804:Biofuels; D018533:Biomass; D002482:Cellulose / Q000378:metabolism; D003013:Clostridium / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D000431:Ethanol; D005227:Fatty Acids; D005285:Fermentation; D005658:Fungi / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005818:Genetic Engineering / Q000379:methods; D008031:Lignin; D010330:Patents as Topic; D010944:Plants / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011134:Polysaccharides
D056804:Biofuels; D005227:Fatty Acids; D011134:Polysaccharides; D000431:Ethanol; C007916:hemicellulose; D002482:Cellulose; D008031:Lignin