Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 17, 2026
14:43
Lignin Down-regulation of Zea mays via dsRNAi and Klason Lignin Analysis
Published on: July 23, 2014
Engineering a thermoregulated intein-modified xylanase into maize for consolidated lignocellulosic biomass processing
Binzhang Shen1, Xueguang Sun, Xiao Zuo
1Agrivida, Inc., Medford, Massachusetts, USA.
Nature Biotechnology
|October 23, 2012
Summary
Engineered xylanase in maize offers a solution for biofuel production. This controlled enzyme activity in plants improves biomass yield and fertility while enabling efficient sugar release for biofuels.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Plant Science
- Biomass Conversion
Background:
- Plant cellulosic biomass is a sustainable feedstock for biofuels and chemicals.
- In planta expression of cell wall-degrading (CWD) enzymes like xylanases can improve biomass processing but may reduce crop yield and fertility.
- Controlling CWD enzyme activity within the plant is crucial for efficient biomass utilization without compromising crop performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To engineer a xylanase with controllable activity for enhanced biomass processing in maize.
- To overcome the negative impacts of constitutive xylanase expression on plant yield and fertility.
- To assess the efficiency of intein-controlled xylanase in releasing sugars from maize stover for biofuel production.
Main Methods:
- Engineered a thermostable xylanase (XynB) with a self-splicing bacterial intein to create intein-modified XynB (iXynB).
- Selected iXynB variants with low basal activity that regain high activity upon heat-induced intein splicing (>59 °C).
- Grew transgenic maize expressing XynB and iXynB, evaluated seed and fertility traits, and processed stover using temperature-regulated enzyme activation.
Main Results:
- Maize expressing wild-type XynB showed reduced seed size and fertility.
- Maize expressing iXynB exhibited normal seed development and fertility.
- Temperature-induced activation of iXynB in maize stover, combined with commercial CWD enzymes, yielded >90% glucose and >63% xylose.
Conclusions:
- Intein-mediated control of xylanase activity in maize (iXynB) successfully mitigates negative effects on plant growth and fertility.
- This approach enables efficient biomass pretreatment and hydrolysis, significantly improving sugar yields for biofuel and chemical production.
- Temperature-regulated enzyme activation presents a viable strategy for optimizing in planta enzyme applications in the biorefining industry.
