At the Vienna University of Technology, genetic engineers
have found a trick, thanks to which fungi can be used for the production of
biofuels far more cost effectively than before.
Lignocellulosic waste such as sawdust or straw can be used
to produce biofuel – but only if the long cellulose and xylan chains can be
successfully broken down into smaller sugar molecules. To do this, fungi are
used which, by means of a specific chemical signal, can be made to produce the
necessary enzymes. Because this procedure is, however, very expensive, Vienna
University of Technology has been investigating the molecular switch that
regulates enzyme production in the fungus. As a result, it is now possible to
manufacture genetically modified fungi that produce the necessary enzymes fully
independently, thus making biofuel production significantly cheaper.