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Current Developments in Cellulase Engineering
Author(s) -
Kellermann Stefanie J.,
Rentmeister Andrea
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
chembioeng reviews
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.089
H-Index - 22
ISSN - 2196-9744
DOI - 10.1002/cben.201300006
Subject(s) - cellulase , cellulose , thermostability , bioprocess , biofuel , biochemical engineering , hydrolysis , chemistry , pulp and paper industry , microbiology and biotechnology , engineering , biochemistry , biology , chemical engineering , enzyme
Degradation of cellulose represents a key step for efficient generation of biofuels such as ethanol or butanol from nonfood crops. Several strategies aim to improve the performance of cellulases in order to make the overall process more cost‐efficient. In one strategy, novel arrangements of cellulases are developed. The resulting so‐called designer cellulosomes might allow to equip the fermenting hosts with sufficient cellulase activity to grow on cellulose as sole carbon source and thus enable consolidated bioprocessing. Other strategies aim to engineer cellulases with higher thermostability and activity to make cellulose hydrolysis more efficient. This review summarizes current developments in the field of cellulase engineering and highlight achievements as well as limitations.