Award details

Dissection and exploitation of xyloglucanases

Reference	BB/D522511/1
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor Gideon Davies
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors	Professor Keith Wilson
Institution	University of York
Department	Chemistry
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	225,495
Status	Completed
Type	Research Grant
Start date	01/12/2005
End date	30/11/2008
Duration	36 months

Abstract

The plant cell wall is a composite structure. Its most well characterised component is cellulose, whose loads-bearing fibres provide strength whilst maintaining flexibility. The long beta-1,4 glucan polymers form microcrystalline arrays stabilised by extensive intra and inter-chain hydrogen bonding. In vivo, the cellular chains are embedded in a mesh of hemicelluloses and lignin whose composition varies between, and defines, the different cell types. One of the key interactions of the cellulosic microfibrils, however, is their intimate relationship with xyloglucan: a branched polysaccharide which has recently been used to modify cellulosic materials for industrial applications. Here we will study nature¿s breakdown system for xyloglucan, xyloglucanases, with a view to dissecting and exploiting their subsite structure both for xyloglucan hydrolysis and the synthesis of novel tailored composites. The work will involve kinetic description on specifically-synthesised aryl-xyloglucan oligosaccharides, 3-D structure determination of three different xyloglucanases (a previously un-analysed enzyme class) and the exploration and exploitation of these enzymes and their mutants for the synthesis of novel oligosaccharides and cellulosic composites.

Summary

The cell wall of plants is a complex composite of many materials. Cellulose (a simple polymer of glucose) fibres provide strength, whilst maintaining flexibility. It is, however, the interplay between cellulose and the many accessory polymers such as hemicellulose and lignin that change the function of each cell type. Xyloglucan is one of these polymers; it is very sticky and adheres to cellulose fibres and its metabolism in plant changes the flexibility of plant cells and is important in remodelling events. Xyloglucans are increasingly important because they can be used to modify the chemical structure of cellulose fibres in textile and paper applications. Some soil bacteria produce a range of enzymes (catalysts) that can degrade and modify xyloglucans. These catalysts are termed xyloglucanases and whilst they have many potential applications they have been very poorly characterised by scientists. The purpose of this grant is to characterise three different families of bacterial xyloglucanase, to dissect their recognition of this important plant polymer and to exploit them for the modification of plant-fibre products.

Committee	Closed Committee - Biomolecular Sciences (BMS)
Research Topics	Bioenergy, Industrial Biotechnology, Plant Science, Structural Biology
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

I accept the terms and conditions of use (opens in new window)

export PDF file

back to list new search