| abstract |
Described herein are methods to reduce the resistance of the plant cell wall to hydrolysis, methods to enhance the conversion of plant biomass into fermentable sugars, methods to increase yields of fermentable sugars from corn grain hydrolysis, and techniques to harvest both the grain and stover from the field simultaneously for hydrolysis. In certain embodiments, the invention provides transgenic plants transformed with expression vectors containing a DNA sequence encoding plant cell wall-modifying enzymes from microbial and animal sources. In certain embodiments, the invention provides methods of improving enzyme performance by creating variants of the parental enzyme. In certain embodiments, the invention provides methods of using stay-green varieties as biomass feedstocks for cellulosic biofuel production. Uses of this invention include, but are not limited to, enhanced biomass conversion, cost-effective lignocellulosic biomass conversion and biofuel production, reduced biomass recalcitrance, enhanced forage digestibility by animals, improved fiber qualities, and enhanced fiber processing properties. |