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The sequencing of the genome of the fungus Posti placenta, which has participated in the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) has revealed that this organism despolimeriza a unique cellulose of wood, from which Bioethanol is obtained. The finding will be, according to the authors of the international study, useful in the development of second-generation biofuels that do not compete with food crop production.

The sequencing of the genome of the basidiomycete, funded by the Department of Energy, USA, is published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA (PNAS). The genome sequencing was completed by transcriptomics and proteomics studies, which has identified genes that are expressed and the proteins that participate in this unique mechanism of attack on cellulose.

CSIC researchers identified in the work Posti placenta is capable of performing a process or despolimerización extensive degradation of cellulose, regardless of the prior removal of lignin that prevents access to the polysaccharides, as in the process of hydrolysis which do the rest of the microorganisms that degrade this compound. The basidiomycetes are able to directly attack the cellulose, which uses, in addition to enzymes, chemical oxidants (hydroxyl radicals) in the beginning of the attack, as the team has revealed the CSIC.

CSIC researcher and study co-author of Angel T. Martinez said: "This approach from the bio represents a sustainable alternative against the use of the limited availability of fossil resources, while contributing to the fight against global change, to obtain a zero balance between carbon dioxide fixed by plants and released during the industrial use of biomass. "

The Department of Energy, the U.S. has funded the analysis of several microbial and plant genomes to promote development of biofuels from renewable products derived from plant biomass. These processes will not compete with food crop production (as in the case of bioethanol from cereal grains), because they are based on agricultural residues and agro-forestry crops developed for this purpose.