Discovery and Engineering of Novel Hemicellulases from Under-Studied Environments for Sustainable Biomass Conversion

About the Project

The escalating demand for renewable materials and sustainable energy is driving urgent interest in efficient biomass conversion technologies. Among renewable carbon sources, lignocellulosic biomass—comprised primarily of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin—is the most abundant. However, its intrinsic recalcitrance, particularly in hemicellulose fractions, significantly increases the cost and complexity of bioconversion. Conventional chemical pretreatments are effective, but tend to be energy-intensive, costly, and associated with environmental risks. These limitations highlight the necessity for innovative enzyme-based strategies.

Dr Natalie Ferry and Dr Diaz De Rienzo’s research at the University of Salford focuses on the discovery and biochemical characterisation of novel enzymes (particularly carbohydrate-active enzymes, or CAZymes) from microorganisms adapted to extreme environments. Extremophiles — organisms that thrive in harsh conditions of temperature, salinity, or pH — possess enzymes that are naturally stable and active under industrially relevant conditions. Mining these enzymes from metagenomic datasets offers an untapped reservoir of biocatalysts with desirable traits for biotechnological applications.

This PhD project builds upon that foundation, integrating bioinformatics, molecular biology, protein engineering, and process development to discover, characterise, and optimise hemicellulases from under-studied environments for use in sustainable biomass processing. The work directly supports global goals in circular bioeconomy development and aligns with the University of Salford’s focus on biotechnology for environmental sustainability

Supervisors:

Natalie Ferry

Alejandra Mayri Diaz De Rienzo

Overall Aim:

To discover, characterise, and engineer novel hemicellulase enzymes from under-studied environments for enhanced performance in industrial biomass conversion.

Specific Objectives:

1. Metagenomic Mining: Identify novel hemicellulase gene candidates from metagenomic datasets derived from extreme ecological niches (e.g., insect gut microbiomes).
2. Cloning and Expression: Clone and express candidate genes in suitable microbial hosts (e.g., E. coli or Pichia pastoris), optimising conditions for soluble and active enzyme production.
3. Biochemical Characterisation: Determine enzyme activity profiles, substrate specificities, and stability parameters (temperature, pH, ionic strength).
4. Enzyme Engineering: Apply directed evolution and rational design strategies to enhance catalytic efficiency, thermostability, or tolerance to industrial conditions (e.g., solvents, high solids).
5. Process Integration and Evaluation: Assess the performance of engineered enzymes in pilot-scale biomass conversion processes (e.g., saccharification of agricultural waste for bioethanol or bioplastic precursor production).
6. Techno-Economic and Environmental Analysis: Evaluate the potential economic and environmental benefits of enzyme-based biomass processing compared with conventional methods.