The new discovery will aid in the development of more efficient and sustainable technologies for bioenergy generation
A study led by researchers from the Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), located in Campinas (SP), has identified a novel molecular mechanism that explains how enzymes degrade beta-glucans, a class of carbohydrates found in fungi, algae, and plants, with great relevance for industrial and energy applications. The research involved approximately 18 collaborators from the LNBR (Brazilian Biorenewables National Laboratory) and the LNLS (Brazilian Synchrotron Light Laboratory), both part of CNPEM, in addition to external researchers from Unicamp and universities in Spain and Canada.
Representation of the enzyme forming a catalytic tunnel that enables interaction with the beta-glucan chain and its continuous processing.
Published in the scientific journal Nature Communications, the work describes, for the first time, a process called processive catalysis applied to the breakdown of these compounds. In this mechanism, the enzyme acts continuously on the same molecular chain, without detaching itself after each stage of the reaction, which makes the process more efficient.
According to researcher Mariana Morais, one of the study coordinators, the work utilized various techniques and equipment at CNPEM, including directed mutagenesis techniques and kinetic analyses. The research also included high-resolution X-ray crystallography experiments conducted at Sirius, CNPEM’s particle accelerator, as well as computer simulations carried out on the Santos Dumont supercomputer, at the National Laboratory for Scientific Computing (LNCC).
“This integration allowed for the observation, at the atomic level, of all stages of the enzymatic process, from substrate recognition to product release and the restart of the catalytic cycle”, says Morais.
Frontiers of bioenergy
According to the researchers, a detailed understanding of this mechanism can guide the development of more efficient processes for utilizing biomass, contributing to a more sustainable economy based on renewable resources.
Beta-(1,3)-glucans are important components of biomass and have the potential to be converted into biofuels and high-value chemicals. Understanding how these molecules are degraded is essential for developing more efficient and sustainable technologies.
The research revealed that the studied enzyme forms a kind of “molecular tunnel” when it binds to the substrate, allowing the reaction to occur in a continuous and organized manner. This behavior differs from the mechanisms traditionally known for this type of carbohydrate, which involve discontinuous processes.
According to the authors, this discovery establishes a new paradigm: processive catalysis may be a more common strategy than previously thought among enzymes that act on different types of carbohydrates (or biomolecules).
These compounds also have relevant immunological properties, which expands the potential application of the discovery to the pharmaceutical and nutritional fields.
About LNBR
The Brazilian Biorenewables National Laboratory (LNBR) works to address scientific challenges that are strategic for Brazil in order to promote energy transition and develop a sustainable bioeconomy. Its interdisciplinary competencies in bioprospecting, synthetic biology, biocatalysis, bioprocesses and sustainability are integrated into the development of technologies founded on renewable sources, domestic production chains and Brazilian biodiversity. Its infrastructure on the cutting edge of multi-omics, synthetic biology, precision fermenting, and scaling-up of bioprocesses is open to the scientific community in order to strengthen the national bioeconomy ecosystem and partnerships with the productive sector. The biotechnology platforms developed by LNBR, which are made available for research and innovation, are intended to boost Brazil’s autonomy and competitiveness in the production of biofuels, chemicals and materials. LNBR is part of the Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM) in Campinas, São Paulo, a private, non-profit organization overseen by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI).
About CNPEM
The Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM) is home to a state-of-the-art, multi-user and multidisciplinary scientific environment and works on different fronts within the Brazilian National System for Science, Technology and Innovation. A social organization overseen by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI), CNPEM is driven by research that impacts the areas of health, energy, renewable materials, and sustainability. It is responsible for Sirius, the largest assembly of scientific equipment constructed in the country, and is currently constructing Project Orion, a laboratory complex for advanced pathogen research. Highly specialized science and engineering teams, sophisticated infrastructure open to the scientific community, strategic lines of investigation, innovative projects involving the productive sector, and training for researchers and students are the pillars of this institution that is unique in Brazil and able to serve as a bridge between knowledge and innovation. CNPEM’s research and development activities are carried out through its four National Laboratories: Synchrotron Light (LNLS), Biosciences (LNBio), Nanotechnology (LNNano), Biorenewables (LNBR), as well as its Technology Unit (DAT) and the Ilum School of Science — an undergraduate program in Science and Technology supported by the Ministry of Education (MEC).
