Harnessing the potential of LPMO-containing cellulase cocktails poses new demands on processing conditions

Journal article, 2015

The emerging bioeconomy depends on improved methods for processing of lignocellulosic biomass to fuels and chemicals. Saccharification of lignocellulose to fermentable sugars is a key step in this regard where enzymatic catalysis plays an important role and is a major cost driver. Traditionally, enzyme cocktails for the conversion of cellulose to fermentable sugars mainly consisted of hydrolytic cellulases. However, the recent discovery of lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs), which cleave cellulose using molecular oxygen and an electron donor, has provided new tools for biomass saccharification