Enzyme isolated with lignin “switch” and biofuels promise

In the UK, an enzyme named caffeoyl shikimate esterase (CSE) may hold the key to reducing lignin in stem material for biofuel conversion. The study, a collaboration between Dundee University, the James Hutton Institute, VIB research institute, Ghent University, and the University of Wisconsin, resulted in a 36% drop in the amount of lignin per gram of stem material. With the growth differences factored in, the discovery could amount to around three times as much biomass from each plant.

More on the story.