Pam Ronald and a team of researchers at the Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI) have identified a rice acyltransferase gene that with increased expression improves both the extraction of xylan and saccharification without significant changes in plant health seed mass and biomass compared to wild type plants. Xylan an abundant polysaccharide offers a significant amount of stored energy for biofuel production. Yet most of the enzymes that synthesize xylan have not been identified and none of the enzymes specific to grass xylan synthesis have been identified. This technology is the first demonstration that increased expression of a native plant gene modifies cell wall content and affects cell wall digestibility. Applications: Biofuel production
1) Significant amount of stored energy for biofuel production. 2 Facilitates xylan extraction