Lawrence lab improves enzymes to boost sugar yields for biofuels

In California, researchers with the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory through support from the Energy Biosciences Institute have literally shed new light on cellulase catalysis by using an ultrahigh-precision visible light microscopy technique called PALM – for Photo-Activated Localization Microscopy. Researchers have found a way to improve the collective catalytic activity of enzyme cocktails that can boost the yields of sugars for making fuels. Increasing the sugar yields from cellulosic biomass to help bring down biofuel production costs is essential for the widespread commercial adoption of these fuels.