Source: MORNING AG CLIPS, 7/13/17

Producing biofuels like ethanol from plant materials requires various enzymes to break down the cellulosic fibers. Neutrons have identified the specifics of an enzyme-catalyzed reaction that could significantly reduce the total amount of enzymes used, improving production processes and lowering costs. Researchers from the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory and North Carolina State University used a combination of X-ray and neutron crystallography to determine the detailed atomic structure of a specialized fungal enzyme.

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