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Ashli Brown, a biochemist in MSU"s Department ofBiochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology, and Plant Pathology,recently discovered that microbes in panda feces are strong enoughto break down the toughest plant materials. According to Brown,panda poop might help overcome one of the major challenges toproducing biofuels: breaking down the raw plant materials used tomake the fuels. The findings have garnered national attention as the reproductionof these microbes could contribute to developing alternative fuelsthat don"t interfere with food crops and could also save agreat deal of money. "One of the most expensive processes in making biofuels isthe pretreatment, where sugar polymers are chemically treated sothat they can be used to make ethanol or oil," Brown said."If you can insert a microbe that does that naturally andefficiently, production costs for alternative fuels would be cuttremendously." Brown and her colleagues, including MSU graduate student CandaceWilliams, conducted a 14-month study of the giant pandas at theMemphis Zoo. While the initial focus of the study was to observethe overall health and nutrition of the pandas, Williams and Brownfound several species of microbes that can break down woody plantmaterial that is generally difficult to digest. "The microbes we found are similar to digestive bacteriafound in termite guts, which help termites break down and digestwood," Brown said. "However, our studies suggestthat the bacteria species in panda intestines may be more efficientat breaking down plant materials than the bacteria species intermites, and may do so in a way that is better for biofuelmanufacturing purposes." Under certain conditions, panda fecal bacteria can convert 95percent of plant biomass into simple sugars, Brown said. "The enzymes in the bacteria speed up chemical reactions,eliminating the current system of high heat, harsh acids and highpressures used to produce biofuels," Brown said. "Bacteria would also be a more energy-efficient way to turnmaterials such as switchgrass, corn stalks and wood chips intofuel." Brown"s colleague, assistant professor Darrell Sparks, saidthe finding has the potential to make a huge impact in Mississippi,a state with abundant forest resources. "We have plentiful forest resources in the state,"Sparks said. "Developing an economical process to convertthat woody biomass to simple sugars would give Mississippi acompetitive advantage in the development of biofuels." Brown and Sparks, both scientists in the university"sMississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, are nowworking on identifying as many bacteria from the pandas"intestines as possible and figuring out which ones are best atconverting bamboo into sugars. "We are looking for the most powerful digestiveenzymes," Brown said. "We could then program yeastcells to make these enzymes." Williams, a doctoral student in molecular biology, said theresearch illustrates the importance of conserving and protectingplants and animals. The giant panda, whose home range is south-central China, isconsidered an endangered species. On its website, the InternationalUnion for the Conservation of Nature reports fewer than 2,500mature giant pandas in the wild. The study was funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, The MemphisZoological Society, the Mississippi Corn Promotion Board and theSustainable Energy Research Center at Mississippi State. -30- Released: Sept. 22, 2011 Contact: Dr. Ashli Brown, (662) 325-2640 Publications may download photograph at 200 ppi. The e-commerce company in China offers quality products such as Piston Pump Parts , Linde Pumps Manufacturer, and more. For more , please visit Hydraulic Piston Pump today!
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