Monday, April 19, 2010
3-32

Characterization of a thermally-tolerant pectin esterase for plant biomass processing and structure modification

Brett J. Savary and Prasanna Vasu. Arkansas Biosciences Institute, Arkansas State University, PO Box 639, State University, AR 72401

Plant biomass represented by food and vegetable processing residues exists as a largely untapped source of structural polysaccharides that can be converted into higher-value biobased products or provide feedstock for biofuel production.  Enzymatic modification of certain structural polysaccharide components in plant cell walls may provide economic benefit by reducing energy consumption during primary processing as well as improving functionality of the residue.  The later can benefit nutritional qualities in specialty animal feed and for composite biomaterials with improved biodegradation properties.  We present in this poster our characterization of a naturally thermally-tolerant plant pectin methylesterase isolated from a GRAS plant source and our investigation of its utility in biomass processing of a pectin-rich resource.  An efficient purification process has been developed and the biochemical properties characterized – the enzyme shows complete stability at 70 deg C.  Structural characterization has been completed and the full gene sequence obtained.  We are now investigating how action by this enzyme on plant tissues treated in an existing industrial process can benefit drying of tissue and simultaneously provide beneficial structure modification.  Our goal is to determine the utility for the enzyme in biomass processing and its suitability for expression in plants to engineer improved processing properties.

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