Edenspace acquires Michgan State technology for inserting powerful cow stomach enzymes into corn kernel

In Michigan, Edenspace Systems has won licensing rights to a Michigan State technology that genetically modifies corn cells by inserting genetic material from cow stomachs. The cow enzyme is safely embedded in the cell vacuole until the plant is crushed during ethanol production, when it is released and more rapidly breaks down plant cellulose. Edenspace said that believed the process would unlock a highly efficient means of releasing the 40 percent of energy the corn stores in its stalks and leaves, without the use of cost-prohibitive designer enzymes.

The company intends to have a product ready for market by 2011.

Free Subscription to the Daily Biofuels Digest e-newsletter

Related Stories

Michigan universities award $800,000 for cellulosic ethanol, vehicle efficiency research

The University of Michigan, Michigan State and Wayne State awarded $800,000 for "revolutionary but feasible" alternative energy projects. One project proposes to convert 10-15 percent of tailpipe heat...

Penn State researchers find new means of lignin conversion to improve viability of cellulosic ethanol

Researchers at Penn State University said that they have developed a technique to genetically modify the connections in lignin to make it a more efficient feedstock for biofuels. The technique focuses...

Illinois researchers develop low-cost path to cellulosic ethanol enzymes

In Illinois, researchers announced the discovery that new enzymes, able to be grown in corn,  will break down plant cellulose for cellulosic ethanol production. Typical enzymes are grown in energy-...

ICM debuts process to extract more human food from ethanol production; to retrofit its 73 plants

In Missouri, ICM has debuted a new process to extract more food for human consumption from the ethanol conversion process that uses field corn used for livestock. The process, called Total Kernel Opti...

Michigan State researchers develop one-step procedure for cellulosic ethanol enzymes; growing them inside the crop, instead of in bioreactors

In Michigan, researchers at Michigan State have developed a process to insert enzymes used to break down cellulose, into crops such as corn. The process, which is just beginning a testing phase, would...

FDA approves Syngenta’s new corn seed for bulk trial; first seed to contain the vital corn amylase enzyme

In Washington, the FDA approved bulk trials of a new corn seed from Syngenta which contains the corn amylase enzyme, after positive results from pilot trials. The Anglo-Swiss group company said that i...