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Expression of Cell Wall–Modifying Enzymes in Aspen for Improved Lignocellulose Processing

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The Plant Cell Wall

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 2149))

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Abstract

Wood is an important source of biomass for materials and chemicals, and a target for genetic engineering of its properties for different applications or for research. Wood properties can be altered by using different enzymes acting on cell wall polymers postsynthetically in cell walls. This approach allows for a precise polymer structure modification thanks to the specificity of enzymes used. Such enzymes can originate from all kinds of organisms, or even be modified in a desired way for novel attributes. Here we present a general strategy for expressing a microbial enzyme in aspen and targeting it to cell wall, using an example of fungal glucuronoyl esterase. We describe methods of vector cloning, plant transformation, transgenic line selection and multiplication, testing for the presence of enzymatic activity in different cell compartments, and finally the method of plant transferring from sterile culture to the greenhouse conditions.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Dr. Emma Master and Dr. Satoshi Endo for their advice on the vector cloning strategy and Veronica Bourquin for sharing her experience in plant tissue culture techniques.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umea, Sweden

    Marta Derba-Maceluch & Ewa J. Mellerowicz

Authors
  1. Marta Derba-Maceluch
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  2. Ewa J. Mellerowicz
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Marta Derba-Maceluch .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Botany and Plant Science School of Natural Sciences, Ryan Institute for Environmental Marine and Energy Research School of Natural Sciences, The National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland

    Zoë A. Popper

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Derba-Maceluch, M., Mellerowicz, E.J. (2020). Expression of Cell Wall–Modifying Enzymes in Aspen for Improved Lignocellulose Processing. In: Popper, Z. (eds) The Plant Cell Wall. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 2149. Humana, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-0621-6_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-0621-6_9

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  • Publisher Name: Humana, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-0716-0619-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-0716-0621-6

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