Theability to efficiently decompose lignocellulosic biomass into carbohydratesthat can be used for the generation of biofuels and bioproducts has become thefocus of much experimental and theoretical research. Yet, limited understandingexists on how the enzymes that catalyze the biochemical conversion of biomass,such as cellulases, interact with cellulose microfibrils. This has spurred theapplication of a number of high-resolution imaging techniques to obtain aglimpse of the biomolecular interactions that take place at the nanoscale.Through this approach, it has been possible to visualize the directed movementof carbohydrate binding modules, cellulase processivity, the impediments incellulase processive motion under molecular crowding, and even nanoscalechanges occurring to microfibrils as they are hydrolyzed. Along these lines, myresearch has contributed to the fundamental understanding ofcellulase-cellulose interactions by applying single molecule fluorescencemicroscopy to elucidate the ability of cellulases to move without catalysisalong cellulose surfaces. In this presentation, I will give an overview of ourexperimental findings and will describe experimental approaches that can beused to determine other fundamental interactions between cellulases andcellulose. It is anticipated that fundamental understanding of the capabilitiesand limitations of cellulases will help design more efficient strategies forthe biochemical conversion of lignocellulosic materials.

Study of cellulase-cellulose interactions through high-resolution fluorescence microscopy techniques

245th National Meeting (2013)

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