Characterization of a Novel Endocellulase to Optimize Biofuel Production

Presentation Year

2025

College or Department

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

Short Description of your Research or Creative Project (700 characters or less)

Bioethanol is a biofuel already prevalent throughout industry as a gasoline additive. It is widely considered carbon neutral since the carbon released upon combustion was taken from the CO2 in the air and made into cellulose during photosynthesis. Starchy or sugary food crops are used in bioethanol production when plant waste cellulose could be used instead. Efficient and scalable cellulase enzymes are limiting this switch. We sought to characterize a novel cellulase identified by metagenomic analysis of bovine rumen by the JGI and Hess et al. We performed protein expression and characterization by SDS-PAGE, CMC and DNS activity assays to compare this enzyme’s efficacy to commercial ones.

Permission to Publish Work

Yes

Primary Contact: First Name

Layla

Primary Contact: Last Name

Beck

Primary Contact: Email

lb204@humboldt.edu

Primary Contact: I am a

Undergraduate Student

Primary Contact: Phone Number

7072459364