Clean Technology
Grass Modified for Easier Bioprocessing
WARF: P120040US02
Inventors: John Ralph, Curtis Wilkerson, Saunia Withers, John Sedbrook
The Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) is seeking commercial partners interested in developing a method to make grass lignin easier to process by knocking down a gene called PMT.
Overview
Manufacturing paper and producing biofuels is difficult because the lignin in plant cell walls is tough to degrade. Current techniques are energy intensive and use harsh chemicals. In the case of biofuels, costly pretreatments are required to alter the lignin and help enzymes produce sugars for fermentation. Grass lignins contain large amounts of p-coumarate that interfere with this process.
UW–Madison researchers previously identified a transferase gene in the Angelica sinensis plant that makes lignin less resistant to chemical breakdown (see WARF reference number P100281US02). They continue to build on their work to create so-called ‘zip lignin’ that is easier to process.
UW–Madison researchers previously identified a transferase gene in the Angelica sinensis plant that makes lignin less resistant to chemical breakdown (see WARF reference number P100281US02). They continue to build on their work to create so-called ‘zip lignin’ that is easier to process.
The Invention
The researchers have identified another gene of interest in rice, corn/maize and other grasses, called p-coumarate monolignol transferase (PMT). This is the first gene reportedly involved in the acylation of lignin monomers. In essence, interfering with this gene could make plants more amenable to biorefining.
Applications
- Conversion of lignocellulosic biomass to biofuels and industrially important chemicals
- Production of pulp for papermaking
- Production of animal feeds and forages
Key Benefits
- PMT downregulation reduces the p-coumarate levels in grasses, reducing the level of components toxic to fermentation microorganisms.
- Alternatively, PMT upregulation allows grasses to produce more p-coumarate if the easily clipped p-coumaric acid (or derivatives) are being produced as chemical byproducts.
- Makes plant material easier to break down when used in conjunction with the ‘zip-lignin’ gene (FMT)
- By reducing the severity of the required pretreatment step, this discovery should lead to savings in both energy costs and water consumption.
- May enable sustainable local processing without massive facility costs
- Processing low-density plant materials locally may decrease transportation costs and reduce greenhouse emissions.
- May make animal feed more digestible
- Applicable to many types of grasses (e.g., corn, switchgrass, sugarcane, wheat, millet and sorghum)
Stage of Development
The researchers identified the gene in rice, along with its homologs in Brachypodium and corn/maize.
Additional Information
For More Information About the Inventors
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For current licensing status, please contact Jennifer Gottwald at [javascript protected email address] or 608-960-9854