Researchers from the University of California Berkeley and the University of Maryland School of Medicine have discovered a microbe in a Nevada hot spring that enjoys eating cellulose (aka plant material) at temperatures above the boiling point of water, 109 degrees Celsius or 228 degrees Fahrenheit. This microbe could hold a key in developing technologies to improve the breakdown of cellulose, an important step in turning biomass to biofuels. The research is being published today in the online journal, Nature Communications.
Robb and his colleagues collected sediment and water samples from the 95℃ (203℉) Great Boiling Springs near the town of Gerlach in northern Nevada and grew microbes on pulverized Miscanthus gigas, a common biofuel feedstock, to isolate those that could grow with plant fiber as their only source of carbon.
The discovery is part of research being led by Clark and his team at UC Berkeley along with a team led by Frank T. Robb U-MD School of Medicine in Baltimore. Their goal is to analyze microbes from hot springs and other extreme environments in search of enzymes that could be used in industrial processes including biofuels.
Today, many of the enzymes used are not optimized for extreme temperatures. For example, according to Clark, a fungal enzyme is commonly used to break down difficult plant cellulose into its constituent sugars to enable them to be fermented by yeast into alcohol. However, the preferred temperature is around 50℃ (122℉), and the enzyme is not stable at higher temperatures desirable to prevent other microbes from contaminating the reaction.
“Our hope is that this example and examples from other organisms found in extreme environments – such as high-temperature, highly alkaline or acidic, or high salt environments – can provide cellulases that will show improved function under conditions typically found in industrial applications, including the production of biofuels,” said Clark who noted that this discovery was interesting because it indicates that there are a lot of potentially useful microbes in places that haven't yet been looked at.
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Lancaster New Era (Lancaster, PA) April 21, 2005 Special events FAIR: The Mix at Arbor Place, 520 North St., a faith-based non- profit organization that works with teens, will host a neighborhood fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 23. go to website maple grove community center
The fair will feature a fire and smokehouse demonstration, monster truck and race car display, face painting, arts and crafts, and free food.
For more information, call 393-1523.
BOOK SIGNING: Wellspring Garden Ministries, 5207 Old Philadelphia Pike, Kinzers, will host an open house and book signing by Naomi Stoltzfus, author of “God Moves Mountains One Pebble at a Time,” from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 23.
Stoltzfus, an Old Order Amish woman who experienced childhood physical and sexual abuse, tells of her healing journey in the book. Light refreshments will be served.
For more information, call 768-7546.
EARTH DAY: Sierra Club members from Lancaster County will observe Earth Day by cleaning a section of the Conestoga River that runs through Lancaster County Central Park from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, April 23.
Anyone interested in participating is welcome. The group will meet inside the park’s main entrance. For more information, call Cindi Moses, 538-1390.
VOLUNTEER FAIR: The American Red Cross will host a volunteer fair from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, April 25, at Lancaster General Hospital’s Stager Conference Center. Lunch will be provided.
Information about all American Red Cross volunteer opportunities, including disaster response, youth services, animal assisted therapy, fundraising and more will be available.
There is no obligation to volunteer with the hospital; however, for those interested volunteer interviews, orientation and TB testing will be offered.
Guests are asked to park on Liberty Street by the former Armstrong office . A shuttle bus will provide transportation to the hospital.
To register, call Jeff O’Donnell at 299-5566, ext.139. go to web site maple grove community center
Seminars HYPNOTHERAPY: A free seminar, sponsored by certified hypnotherapist S. Lee Mengal, will be offered from 2:30 to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 24, at Maple Grove Community Center, 1420 Columbia Ave.
The seminar will offers ways to enhance weight loss efforts, career advancement, money and relationship issues.
For more information or to register, call 509-5550.
Support groups MENTAL ILLNESS: No Longer Alone Ministries will hold a Family Support Group meeting for those who have loved ones with mental illness from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, April 24, at Akron Mennonite Church, 1311 Diamond St.
For more information, call 656-7358.
TRANSPLANT: Gift of Life, for transplant candidates, recipients, their families and others interested in the transplant process, will meet from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday, April 25, in the third-floor rehab community room at Lancaster Regional Medical Center, 250 College Ave.
For more information, call Judy Loeb at 299-3877.
Clubs WALKING: The Early Birds, Ephrata Community Hospital’s walking club for seniors, will meet for a walk at 7:30 a.m. Monday, April 25, at Stoner Park in Manheim Township.
New members should contact their physician and the Wellness Center before coming out to walk. Participants can try the club, which costs $25 per year, without obligation for their first time.
For more information or to register, call 336-6578.
Classes MAPS: The Lancaster County Historical Society, 230 N. President Ave., will offer a class on using maps in historical and genealogical research at 7 p.m. Monday, April 25.
“Within Our Boundaries: Maps of Lancaster County” will feature Lancaster County maps from the mid-18th century to the present. Instructor Duff Harsh will demonstrate how atlases, Sanborn insurance maps, warrant maps and land drafts can help in genealogical research. Cartographer Martha Tyzenhouse will show how various land features have affected local settlement patterns for two centuries.
Cost is $20 for members and $25 for nonmembers. Advance registration is required by calling 392-4633.
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“These are the most thermophilic Archaea discovered that will grow on cellulose and the most thermophilic cellulase in any organism,” said coauthor Douglas S. Clark, UC Berkeley professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering. “We were surprised to find this bug in our first sample.”
2 Comments »
Advanced BioFuels USA » Hot Springs Microbe May Hold Key to Biofuel Production
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Dave Wareheim
Very exciting!
I spent some time isolating thermophiles from composted horse dung for undergraduate thesis, years ago.
Am curious if you will reverse engineer the heat tolerant enzyme into other organisms that do not require so much heat.
Also curious about the genus, species of the host organism.
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