Expression profile analysis and cloning of genes involved in the structural modification of cellulose in two sugarcane genotypes

Abstract

Research of the production of new materials and sustainable energy has been successively reported in cellulose conversion. Nevertheless, recalcitrant biomass characteristics make the access of cellulase enzymes to cellulose polymer difficult. Proteins, such as Expansin and Xyloglucan endo-transglycosylase / hydrolases (XTH) naturally present in the cell wall of plants, are able to structurally modify cellulose microfibrils, facilitating the lignocellulose enzymatic saccharification processes. Although the cell wall characteristics are one of the main factors for efficiency in biomass hydrolysis, little information about the genes involved in cellulose microfibril structure is known in sugarcane. The present project proposes the gene expression profile analysis of the Expansin and XTH genes in different sugarcane genotypes, as well as the selection, amplification, and cloning in specific vectors of genes with the biotechnological application potential. This approach will contribute to sugarcane genetic modifications studies to the improvement of cell wall biomass and the development of a custom enzymatic cocktail helping the viability of the bagasse hydrolysis process. (AU)