/-/https/www.sciencebuddies.org/cdn/Files/21464/5/sb-logo.png){kind=logo}
/-/https/www.sciencebuddies.org/cdn/Files/21464/5/sb-logo.png){kind=logo}
Cellulobiase Information?
Moderators: AmyCowen, kgudger, MadelineB, Moderators
-
deleted-318486
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Mon Nov 09, 2015 6:23 pm
- Occupation: Student
Cellulobiase Information?
Hello! I want to do a variation of the project "Turn Plants into Biofuel with the Power of Enzymes," but I have been unable to find some information of the enzyme in question, cellulobiase. I want to measure optimal conditions for cellulosic ethanol production, including pH, temperature, enzyme concentration, and subsrate concentration. However, I am unsure of how to do so because I lack some information. What is the substrate I would use with the cellulobiase? How would I ferment the glucose, the product of the reaction? Most importantly, how would I measure the rate of reaction? Is there a sign I would look for, such as bubbling, or is there an ethanol indicator I could use? Please help! Thanks!
-
SciB
- Expert
- Posts: 2071
- Joined: Fri Feb 01, 2013 7:00 am
- Occupation: Retired molecular biologist, university researcher and teacher
- Project Question: I wish to join Scibuddies to be able to help students achieve the best science project possible and to understand the science behind it.
- Project Due Date: n/a
- Project Status: Not applicable
Re: Cellulobiase Information?
Hi,
Is this the project you mean: https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... p038.shtml
The idea, as I understand it, is to use plants as a source of cellulose which is then broken down by an enzyme like cellulobiase [let's abbreviate it to CB, ok?] to glucose. The glucose can then be used as food for yeast that ferment it to produce ethanol.
Were you planning on buying the kit from BioRad? If so they provide all the information you would need on how to do the project. If you are going to just buy some cellulobiase and test it yourself (which is really the best way to learn the science) then we can help you with the methods.
CB is an enzyme of the cellulase type which means it is able to chemically cut up a cellulose polymer into its monomer subunits--glucose (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cellulase). Fungi are a good source of cellulases but there are also bacteria that can digest cellulose.
I looked for a source of CB and discovered that it is also called 'cellobiase'--which is why I could not find it. I found cellobiase from Sigma-Aldrich Chemical Co that is reasonably priced: http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/catalog/pro ... RecCold2-2
Your school would have to order it because they do not sell to individuals.
Once you have the enzyme then you need something for it to act on. It is able to digest cellulose from plant waste, but you would have to do some looking and reading online to find out what you have to do to prepare the plant material for digestion. That information is out there, but it will take some time to work out a complete procedure that you can do with what resources you have.
Do you have access to a lab to work in? That would make this project a lot easier.
After you have digested the plant material you could test it for glucose by adding some yeast and measuring the carbon dioxide produced. You have to do this in a sealed test tube with plastic tubing to run the gas into a collection vessel under water so you can measure the volume of the gas. I can give you details on how to set this up if you want to use this method. Since the purpose of the enzymatic digestion of plant cellulose is to provide glucose for ethanolic fermentation, I think using yeast to test your production would make a lot of sense.
I hope this information is useful. Post again when you have more questions.
Good luck!
Sybee
Is this the project you mean: https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... p038.shtml
The idea, as I understand it, is to use plants as a source of cellulose which is then broken down by an enzyme like cellulobiase [let's abbreviate it to CB, ok?] to glucose. The glucose can then be used as food for yeast that ferment it to produce ethanol.
Were you planning on buying the kit from BioRad? If so they provide all the information you would need on how to do the project. If you are going to just buy some cellulobiase and test it yourself (which is really the best way to learn the science) then we can help you with the methods.
CB is an enzyme of the cellulase type which means it is able to chemically cut up a cellulose polymer into its monomer subunits--glucose (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cellulase). Fungi are a good source of cellulases but there are also bacteria that can digest cellulose.
I looked for a source of CB and discovered that it is also called 'cellobiase'--which is why I could not find it. I found cellobiase from Sigma-Aldrich Chemical Co that is reasonably priced: http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/catalog/pro ... RecCold2-2
Your school would have to order it because they do not sell to individuals.
Once you have the enzyme then you need something for it to act on. It is able to digest cellulose from plant waste, but you would have to do some looking and reading online to find out what you have to do to prepare the plant material for digestion. That information is out there, but it will take some time to work out a complete procedure that you can do with what resources you have.
Do you have access to a lab to work in? That would make this project a lot easier.
After you have digested the plant material you could test it for glucose by adding some yeast and measuring the carbon dioxide produced. You have to do this in a sealed test tube with plastic tubing to run the gas into a collection vessel under water so you can measure the volume of the gas. I can give you details on how to set this up if you want to use this method. Since the purpose of the enzymatic digestion of plant cellulose is to provide glucose for ethanolic fermentation, I think using yeast to test your production would make a lot of sense.
I hope this information is useful. Post again when you have more questions.
Good luck!
Sybee