Researchers from the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP) found an enzyme from an Amazonian fungus, called Trichoderma harzanium, that is capable of breaking down biomass. The new enzyme could be the key to producing sugarcane waste-based biofuels.

Fungi of this genus are present in most soil types and it is one of the most prevalent and culturable fungi. The team used genetic engineering techniques to cheaply mass-produce the new enzyme, which breaks down the different sugars present in plant biomass.The molecule acts on different sugars present in several sources of plant biomass, making it attractive to other industries as well. Source: Maria Augusta C. Horta/UNICAMP

This discovery would encourage the wider use of sugarcane waste to produce biofuels. The development of a cheap enzyme cocktail has been one of the main challenges in the production of second-generation ethanol.

Trichoderma fungi are potential candidates for the production of carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZYmes) that degrade plant cell walls.

During the study, the team used different strains of fungus sequenced transcriptome and analyzed the functional properties. Bioinformatics and biotech enabled researchers to produce enzymes of Escherichia coli bacteria. They selected the GH54 glycoside hydrolase family because it contains enzymes that are capable of acting synergistically with others.

One of the properties identified in the enzyme was the capacity to act on sugars in chains of hemicellulose. It occupies the spaces between cellulose fibrils in plant cell walls. Enzymes that act on the main chain of hemicellulose can access it only if the side chains are removed first. The enzyme has a number of biochemical qualities that are useful in industrial processes. It also has a metal dependency which means it requires metal ion cofactors to exert the catalytic activity.

This Amazonian fungus would eliminate the import of biomass-degrading enzymes to South America, saving time and money for second-generation ethanol fuel production.

A paper on the new enzyme was published in Scientific Reports.