USDA Ag Research Service pioneers technique to speed up selection of cellulose-munching enzymes

In Washington, the Agricultural Research Service arm of the Department of Agriculture has developed an assay technique that reduces the cost and time of identifying enzymes that manufacture alpha-glucuronidase enzymes that assist in the breakdown of plant cell walls. The new assay is expected to quickly screen microbes. In the test, the presence of alpha-glucuronidase genes causes DNA in petri dishes to stain; researchers then insolate the genes.

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