Purdue Study Uncovers Details on Plant Building Blocks
by Christopher Doering (Des Moines Register) Purdue University researchers said Wednesday they have discovered the structure of the enzyme that makes cellulose, a finding that could make it easier to break down plant materials used to make biofuels and other products.
The study could one day help researchers redesign cellulose – the foundation of the plant cell wall – depending on the application. For example, cellulose, a common base in textiles such as cotton, could be altered to better absorb dyes. It also could be changed to break down more easily when cellulosic biofuels are produced. READ MORE and MORE (Purdue University) Abstract