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 (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry
- engineering and technology materials engineering composites
- agricultural sciences agriculture, forestry, and fisheries agriculture
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
MSCA-IF-EF-RI - RI – Reintegration panel
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2018
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
1165 KOBENHAVN
Denmark
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.