Project description
Discovering the role of xylan in plant biomass
One of the most abundant biological resources is plant biomass which can be used to produce heat, electricity and transportation fuel. Cell walls make up the majority of plant biomass, therefore understanding their structure, composition and architecture can provide new insights on how to optimise it. Contributing to this field, the EU-funded XYLAN-2.0 project is investigating the full function of xylan in cellulosic material in the secondary cell wall. The project’s work will further our understanding of xylan with the aim of developing a mechanistic and quantitative model for how xylan modulates cellulose agglomeration. The new insights will have a significant impact on the improvement, process and application of biomass crops.
Objective
Plant biomass is an important renewable resource. Elucidating its compositional complexity imposes a fundamental limit to its application. My research shows that cellulose organization in the secondary cell wall is governed by the xylan component far more than currently thought. Determining the full function of xylan in cellulosic material is the challenge addressed by XYLAN-2.0. To address this challenge, I will characterize cellulose fibril agglomeration as it occurs under different conditions involving xylans with known changes in primary structure. Firstly, I will map changes in cellulose fibril patterning in a large number of xylan mutants of the plant Arabidopsis. Secondly, I will systematically investigate nanocellulose:xylan composites made from Arabidopsis wildtype and mutant xylan preparations. Thirdly, I will attempt to produce “recombinant” xylan with well-defined primary structure specifications and use it to produce nanocellulose:xylan composites. These experiments will provide unprecedented insight into the function of xylan and aim to develop a mechanistic and quantitative model for how xylan modulates cellulose agglomeration. These new insights will have an enormous impact on biomass crop improvement, processing and application, particularly on biomass applied for cellulose-based high-performance materials. The experience of my supervisor Prof. Ulvskov in nanocellulose and material science combined with my experience in xylan biochemistry and biosynthesis make an ideal environment for carrying out this project and establishing myself as a leading independent multidisciplinary researcher.
Fields of science
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
MSCA-IF-EF-RI - RI – Reintegration panelCoordinator
1165 Kobenhavn
Denmark