Last year, biofuels consisted of only 2.7 % of the world’s transportation fuel. This astoundingly low percentage is due high costs of biofuels. Researchers at the Energy Biosciences Institute, University of California, Berkeley, have found a new way to decrease the costs. Their method involves reducing O-acetate in the cell walls of plants by blocking enzymes that acetylate content of cell walls. When the polysaccharides of plant cell walls are O-acetylated, acetate releases and inhibits activity of microbes involved in fuel processing. Decreased activity of microbes leads to less bioethanol product.

Researchers focused on xyloglucan (type of hemicelluloses) while looking for enzymes that acetylate the polysaccharides in bio fuel feed stock. Using Arabidopsis thaliana as their model plant, researchers identified a mutant from the population that showed a 20%-50% reduction of xyloglucan O-acetylation. After mapping the mutation to a location in the Arabidopsis genome, they named the gene locus Altered Hemicellulose Xyloglucan (AXY4). They noticed that blocking the expression of AXY4 in Arabidopsis stops xyloglucan O-acetylation.

Scientists hope that this research will allow them to find others genes in biofuel feedstock similar to the gene that encodes for O-acetylation in Arabidopsis. They believe that this will aid in breeding biofuel feedstocks for optimal product and reduced lignocelluloses acetate. Ultimately, this research could result in lower prices for biofuels. In fact, an economic model predicts that with 20% reduction in acetylation equals to a 10% reduction in bioethanol price.

Discussion Question: What factors in the bio fuel making process contribute to its high prices? Is there a solution that could help reduce its impact on bio fuel’s price?

News Article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111116104350.htm
Press Release:  http://my.aspb.org/members/blog_view.asp?id=700954&post=134371
Image:   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Arabidopsis_thaliana.jpg