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Protein gRAFTing: a RAFT Polymerization Strategy for Grafting‐to and Grafting‐from Proteins
Author(s) -
McGlone Cameron,
Falatach Rebecca,
Nix Jay,
AlAbdulWahid Sameer,
Berberich Jason,
Konkolewicz Dominik,
Page Richard
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.29.1_supplement.723.1
Subject(s) - grafting , raft , reversible addition−fragmentation chain transfer polymerization , polymer chemistry , polymerization , chemistry , radical polymerization , polymer , organic chemistry
The Renewable Fuel Standard II (RFS2) sets ambitious targets for the generation of renewable fuels, including a target of 16 billion gallons per year of cellulosic ethanol production by 2022. Meeting this target will require a 600‐fold increase in current cellulosic biofuel production. Vast improvements in the stability of thermophilic cellulases used for the initial cellulose digestion step are sorely needed. Recently, reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer polymerization (RAFT) have been shown to improve protein stability while retaining enzyme activity and giving control over the monomer type and polymer size. RAFT is ideal for use with proteins as it does not require a transition metal catalyst and has excellent tolerance to functional groups. To test the applicability of RAFT polymerization with proteins, we utilized both a grafting‐to and grafting‐from technique was used to attach a polymer to, or grow a polymer directly off proteins, respectively. The technology we develop will be applied to a range of thermophilic cellulases necessary for the first steps of cellulosic ethanol production.