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Plant Biotechnol (Tokyo) 2020 Dec;37(4):465-469

Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5 Takayama-cho, Ikoma, Nara 630-0192, Japan.

Xylem vessels, which conduct water from roots to aboveground tissues in vascular plants, are stiffened by secondary cell walls (SCWs). Protoxylem vessel cells deposit cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin as SCW components in helical and/or annular patterns. The mechanisms underlying SCW patterning in the protoxylem vessel cells are not fully understood, although VASCULAR-RERATED NAC-DOMAIN 7 (VND7) has been identified as a master transcription factor in protoxylem vessel cell differentiation in . Read More

Nat Commun 2021 04 12;12(1):2178. Epub 2021 Apr 12.

State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.

Many phytopathogens secrete cell wall degradation enzymes (CWDEs) to damage host cells and facilitate colonization. As the major components of the plant cell wall, cellulose and hemicellulose are the targets of CWDEs. Damaged plant cells often release damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) to trigger plant immune responses. Read More

Food Sci Nutr 2021 Apr 27;9(4):2335-2344. Epub 2021 Feb 27.

University of The Gambia Serrekunda Gambia.

In millennia, much attention has been paid toward agro-industrial waste which consists of lignin and cellulosic biomass. In this perspective, biomass waste which consists of lignocellulosic mass is an inexpensive, renewable, abundant that provides a unique natural resource for large-scale and cost-effective bioenergy collection. In this current scenario, efforts are directed to briefly review the agro-industrial lignocellulosic biomass as a broad spectrum of numerous functional ingredients, its utilization, and respective health benefits with special to wheat straw. Read More

Front Microbiol 2021 26;12:652655. Epub 2021 Mar 26.

Biochemical Process Engineering, Division of Chemical Engineering, Department of Civil, Environmental and Natural Resources Engineering, Luleå University of Technology, Luleå, Sweden.

Cellulases are a group of enzymes responsible for the degradation of cellulose, which is one of the most abundant polymers on Earth. The three main groups of cellulases are endoglucosidases, exoglucosidases, and β-glucosidases; however, the mechanism of induction of these enzymes remains poorly characterized. Cellooligosaccharides are among the main inducers of these enzymes in filamentous fungi, yet it is not clear how their degree of polymerization may affect the strength of induction. Read More

Carbohydr Polym 2021 Jun 13;262:117935. Epub 2021 Mar 13.

INRAE, Avignon University, UMR SQPOV, F-84000, Avignon, France. Electronic address:

The contribution of ATR-FTIR spectroscopy to study cell wall polysaccharides (CWPs) was carefully investigated. The region 1800-800 cm was exploited using principal component analysis and hierarchical clustering on a large range of different powders of CWPs based on their precise chemical characterization. Relevant wavenumbers were highlighted for each CWP: 1035 cm was attributed to xylose-containing hemicelluloses, 1065 and 807 cm to mannose-containing hemicelluloses, 988 cm to cellulose, 1740 and 1600 cm to homogalacturonans according to the degree of methylation. Read More

Sci Rep 2021 Apr 8;11(1):7688. Epub 2021 Apr 8.

Institute of Horticultural Crops, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 403 Nanchang Road, Urumqi, 830091, China.

Korla pear (Pyrus sinkiangensis Yü) is a landrace selected from a hybrid pear species in the Xinjiang Autonomous Region in China. In recent years, pericarp roughening has been one of the major factors that adversely affects fruit quality. Compared with regular fruits, rough-skin fruits have a greater stone cell content. Read More

Acta Crystallogr F Struct Biol Commun 2021 Apr 31;77(Pt 4):95-104. Epub 2021 Mar 31.

The Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv 69978, Israel.

A novel member of the family 3 carbohydrate-binding modules (CBM3s) is encoded by a gene (Cthe_0271) in Clostridium thermocellum which is the most highly expressed gene in the bacterium during its growth on several types of biomass substrates. Surprisingly, CtCBM3-0271 binds to at least two different types of xylan, instead of the common binding of CBM3s to cellulosic substrates. CtCBM3-0271 was crystallized and its three-dimensional structure was solved and refined to a resolution of 1. Read More

Sci Rep 2021 Apr 7;11(1):7622. Epub 2021 Apr 7.

Department of Textile Engineering, BGMEA University of Fashion and Technology, Dhaka, 1230, Bangladesh.

This study deals with the determination of new natural fibers extracted from the Corypha taliera fruit (CTF) and its characteristics were reported for the potential alternative of harmful synthetic fiber. The physical, chemical, mechanical, thermal, and morphological characteristics were investigated for CTF fibers. X-ray diffraction and chemical composition characterization ensured a higher amount of cellulose (55. Read More

Biotechnol Biofuels 2021 Apr 7;14(1):88. Epub 2021 Apr 7.

Beijing Key Laboratory of Lignocellulosic Chemistry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China.

Background: Cocksfoot grass (Dactylis glomerata L.) with high biomass yield and rich cellulose can be used to produce bioethanol as fuel additive. In view of this, ultrasonic and hydrothermal pretreatments followed by successive alkali extractions were assembled into an integrated biorefinery process applied on cocksfoot grass to improve its enzymatic hydrolysis. Read More

Bioresour Technol 2021 Mar 23;332:125033. Epub 2021 Mar 23.

Bioproducts, Sciences and Engineering Laboratory, Washington State University Tricities, Biological Systems Engineering, Washington State University, United States.

Food and energy requirements are increasing globally, and the challenge is to meet these demands in a sustainable manner. Oil palm has a relatively high productivity, but produces the lignocellulosic residue of empty fruit bunches (OPEFB). In this study, wet oxidation pretreatment is utilized to overcome the recalcitrance of OPEFB during semi-continuous anaerobic digestion (AD) with between 19. Read More

Front Microbiol 2021 18;12:629449. Epub 2021 Mar 18.

Departamento de Ingeniería Celular y Biocatálisis, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Cuernavaca, Mexico.

The genus is composed of a group of Gram-positive facultative anaerobe bacteria with fermentative metabolism. Strains of this genus have been isolated from various ecological niches, including a wide variety of fermented cereal foods. The present study aimed to determine the relative abundance and fermentation capabilities of species isolated from , a traditional product made of lime-cooked (nixtamalized) fermented maize. Read More

Microorganisms 2021 Mar 5;9(3). Epub 2021 Mar 5.

Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto 14049-900, Brazil.

The lignocellulosic biomass comprises three main components: cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. Degradation and conversion of these three components are attractive to biotechnology. This study aimed to prospect fungal lignocellulolytic enzymes with potential industrial applications, produced through a temporal analysis using and seeds as carbon sources. Read More

Molecules 2021 Mar 20;26(6). Epub 2021 Mar 20.

3B's Research Group, I3Bs-Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics of University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark-Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, 4805-017 Barco/Guimarães, Portugal.

Pathogenic microbes are a major source of health and environmental problems, mostly due to their easy proliferation on most surfaces. Currently, new classes of antimicrobial agents are under development to prevent microbial adhesion and biofilm formation. However, they are mostly from synthetic origin and present several disadvantages. Read More

Polymers (Basel) 2021 Mar 9;13(5). Epub 2021 Mar 9.

LAQV/REQUIMTE, Chemistry Department, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Campus de Caparica, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal.

This study seeks to render residues from banana plants into a useful byproduct with possible applications in wound dressings and food packaging. Films based on cellulose extracted from banana plant pseudostem and doped with phenolic compounds extracted from banana plant leaves were developed. The phenolic compounds were extracted using batch solid-liquid and Soxhlet methods, with different drying temperatures and periods of time. Read More

Molecules 2021 Mar 3;26(5). Epub 2021 Mar 3.

Instituto de Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Blvd. Benito Juárez y Calle de la Normal S/N, Col. Insurgentes Este, Mexicali 21280, Baja California, Mexico.

Annually, millions of tons of foods are generated with the purpose to feed the growing world population. One particular eatable is orange, the production of which in 2018 was 75.54 Mt. Read More

Polymers (Basel) 2021 Mar 28;13(7). Epub 2021 Mar 28.

Department of Biological Functions and Engineering, Graduate Kyushu Institute of Technology, School of Life Science and Systems Engineering, 2-4 Hibikino, Wakamatsu-ku, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka 808-0196, Japan.

Residual hemicellulose could enhance cellulose nanofiber (CNF) processing as it impedes the agglomeration of the nanocellulose fibrils and contributes to complete nanofibrillation within a shorter period of time. Its effect on CNF performance as a reinforcement material is unclear, and hence this study seeks to evaluate the performance of CNF in the presence of amorphous hemicellulose as a reinforcement material in a polypropylene (PP) nanocomposite. Two types of CNF were prepared: SHS-CNF, which contained about 11% hemicellulose, and KOH-CNF, with complete hemicellulose removal. Read More

Arch Microbiol 2021 Apr 1. Epub 2021 Apr 1.

College of Life Science, Central District, Leshan Normal University, No. 778, Riverside Road, Leshan, 614000, China.

Bacillus is an excellent organic matter degrader, and it has exhibited various abilities required for lignocellulose degradation. Several B. velezensis strains encode lignocellulosases, however their ability to efficiently transform biomass has not been appreciated. Read More

Appl Biochem Biotechnol 2021 Mar 30. Epub 2021 Mar 30.

Key Laboratory of Forestry Genetics & Biotechnology, Nanjing Forestry University, Ministry of Education, Nanjing, 210037, People's Republic of China.

The probiotic strain of Bacillus subtilis presents a promising application potential for the value-added bio-utilization of lignocellulosic carbohydrates. By the combined acidolysis pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis, hemicellulose and cellulose constituents of corncob were efficiently converted respectively into fermentable C5 and C6 sugars, mainly including xylose and glucose. B. Read More

Bioresour Technol 2021 Mar 20;331:125009. Epub 2021 Mar 20.

Department of Chemical Engineering (Integrated Engineering), Kyung Hee University, 1732 Deogyeong-daero, Giheung-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 17104, Republic of Korea. Electronic address:

An integrated strategy of multiple catalytic conversions was developed to completely utilize three major fractions of biomass, thereby increasing the revenue from lignocellulosic biomass (white birch). Cellulose was converted into 1,6-hexanediol (1,6-HDO) with a yield of 21.8% via a series of catalytic conversions, hemicellulose was converted into furfural with a yield of 87. Read More

J Exp Bot 2021 Mar 29. Epub 2021 Mar 29.

School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia.

The key role of cell walls in setting mesophyll conductance to CO2 (gm) and, consequently, photosynthesis, is reviewed. First, the theoretical properties of cell walls that can affect gm are presented. Then, we focus on cell wall thickness (Tcw) reviewing empirical evidence showing that Tcw varies strongly among species and phylogenetic groups in a way that correlates with gm and photosynthesis i. Read More

Int J Biol Macromol 2021 Mar 23;181:112-124. Epub 2021 Mar 23.

Center for Engineering, Modeling, and Applied Social Sciences (CECS), Federal University of ABC (UFABC), Santo André, Brazil. Electronic address:

Biopolymers are promising materials for water treatment applications due to their abundance, low cost, expandability, and chemical structure. In this work, gelatin hydrogels filled with cellulose in the form of pristine eucalyptus residues (PER) or treated eucalyptus residues (TER) were prepared for adsorption and chromium removal in contaminated water. PER is a lignocellulosic compound, with cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, while TER has cellulose as a major component. Read More

Adv Exp Med Biol 2021 ;1285:43-61

Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.

Amino acids (AAs) are essential for the survival, growth and development of ruminant conceptuses. Most of the dietary AAs (including L-arginine, L-lysine, L-methionine and L-glutamine) are extensively catabolized by the ruminal microbes of ruminants to synthesize AAs and microbial proteins (the major source of AAs utilized by cells in ruminant species) in the presence of sufficient carbohydrates (mainly cellulose and hemicellulose), nitrogen, and sulfur. Results of recent studies indicate that the ruminal microbes of adult steers and sheep do not degrade extracellular L-citrulline and have a limited ability to metabolize extracellular L-glutamate due to little or no uptake by the cells. Read More

Electrochem commun 2021 Mar;124:106942

Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Hull, Cottingham Road, Kingston-upon-Hull HU6 7RX, United Kingdom.

Mechanical pre-treatment (disc refining) of wheat straw, at both atmospheric and elevated pressure, is shown to be an efficient process to access fermentable monosaccharides, with the potential to integrate within the infrastructure of existing first-generation bioethanol plants. The mild, enzymatic degradation of this sustainable lignocellulosic biomass affords 0.10-0. Read More

Plant J 2021 Mar 23. Epub 2021 Mar 23.

Citrus Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Southwest University, Chongqing, 400712, P. R. China.

Citrus sinensis lateral organ boundary 1 (CsLOB1) was previously identified as a critical disease susceptibility gene for citrus bacterial canker, which is caused by Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri (Xcc). However, the molecular mechanisms of CsLOB1 in citrus response to Xcc are still elusive. Read More

Biotechnol Biofuels 2021 Mar 9;14(1):63. Epub 2021 Mar 9.

Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Bourns College of Engineering, University of California, Riverside, 900 University Ave, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA.

Background: Conventional aqueous dilute sulfuric acid (DSA) pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass facilitates hemicellulose solubilization and can improve subsequent enzymatic digestibility of cellulose to fermentable glucose. However, much of the lignin after DSA pretreatment either remains intact within the cell wall or readily redeposits back onto the biomass surface. This redeposited lignin has been shown to reduce enzyme activity and contribute to rapid enzyme deactivation, thus, necessitating significantly higher enzyme loadings than deemed economical for biofuel production from biomass. Read More

Biotechnol Biofuels 2021 Mar 19;14(1):72. Epub 2021 Mar 19.

Key Laboratory for Forest Resources Conservation and Utilization in the Southwest Mountains of China, Ministry of Education, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming, 650224, China.

Background: In view of the natural resistance of hemicelluloses in lignocellulosic biomass on bioconversion of cellulose into fermentable sugars, alkali extraction is considered as an effective method for gradually fractionating hemicelluloses and increasing the bioconversion efficiency of cellulose. In the present study, sequential alkaline extractions were performed on the delignified ryegrass material to achieve high bioconversion efficiency of cellulose and comprehensively investigated the structural features of hemicellulosic fractions for further applications.

Results: Sequential alkaline extractions removed hemicelluloses from cellulose-rich substrates and degraded part of amorphous cellulose, reducing yields of cellulose-rich substrates from 73. Read More

Waste Manag 2021 Apr 9;125:220-234. Epub 2021 Mar 9.

Jimma University, College of Agriculture, 307, Jimma, Ethiopia.

Although microbial inoculants are promoted as a strategy for improving compost quality, there is no consensus in the published literature about their efficacy. A quantitative meta-analysis was performed to estimate the overall effect size of microbial inoculants on nutrient content, humification and lignocellulosic degradation. A meta-regression and moderator analyses were conducted to elucidate abiotic and biotic factors controlling the efficacy of microbial inoculants. Read More

ACS Omega 2021 Mar 12;6(8):5389-5398. Epub 2021 Feb 12.

School of Energy and Environment, University of Phayao, Tambon Maeka, Amphur Muang Phayao, Phayao 56000, Thailand.

Organosolv fractionation is a promising approach for the separation of lignocellulosic components in integrated biorefineries where each component can be fully valorized into valuable platform chemicals and biofuels. In this study, microwave-accelerated organosolv fractionation was developed for the modification of lignocellulosic fractionation of rice husk. The fractionation condition was optimized for 1 h with the microwave irradiation at 300 W using a ternary solvent mixture composed of 24%:32%:44% water/ethanol/methyl isobutyl ketone. Read More

Environ Technol 2021 Mar 19:1-16. Epub 2021 Mar 19.

Vytautas Magnus University, Kaunas, Lithuania.

Marine biomass is a promising renewable energy source, especially as this waste contains a large amount of cellulose and hemicellulose, which can contribute to convert it into energy products using anaerobic digestion (AD) and pyrolysis processes. This work was focused on a synergetic view of marine coastal waste treatment (seaweed) using two different technologies, anaerobic microbiological co-digestion, and pyrolysis. The experiments were performed with two merged technologies to assess the captured energy from the digestate in case it is contaminated. Read More

J Environ Manage 2021 May 4;286:112272. Epub 2021 Mar 4.

University of Luxembourg, Maison du Savoir, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg.

The recycling of biogas residues resulting from the anaerobic digestion of organic waste on agricultural land is among the means to reduce chemical fertilizer use and combat climate change. This in sacco decomposition study investigates (1) the potential of the granulated biogas residue fraction to provide nutrients and enhance soil carbon sequestration when utilized as exogenous organic matter in grassland soils, and (2) the impact of different nitrogen fertilizers on the organic matter decomposition and nutrient release processes. The experiment was conducted in two permanent grasslands of the Greater Region over one management period using rooibos tea as a comparator material. Read More