UC Berkeley performs 3D imaging of plant cell walls that could unlock potential of cellulosic ethanol
In California, new 3D imaging performed at the University of California, Berkeley has allowed scientists an even closer look at cell walls than before, which will help to develop breakdown techniques for fuel creation. One of the scientists working on the project explained: “We have developed and compared novel sample preparation and molecular 3D imaging approaches for plant cell walls, yielding insight into faithfully preserved 3D wall architecture, which will lead to rational re-engineering of second-generation lignocellulosic biofuel crops.”
Before this imaging, the precise spatial three-dimensional organization of certain plant structures, including cellulose, hemicellulose, pectin, and lignin, within plant cell walls remained unclear.
Category: Research
