- Plants projects in FP7-

DISCO project

 

 

1. Theme - Acronym - Start & end date - Budget

 

FP7 theme: Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, Biotechnology

Projects acronym: Disco
Start and ending date: 08/2008 - 07/2012

EU contribution: 2.99 M€

 

2. Coordinator & address

 

Name coordinator: Dr. Kristiina Kruus

Full address: VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland
P.O. Box 1000
FI-02044 VTT Finland
Tel: +358 20 722 111
Fax: +358 20 722 7001
Kristiina.Kruus[at]vtt.fi

 

3. Full title & contract number

 

Full title: Targeted discovery of novel cellulases and hemicellulases and their reaction mechanisms for hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass

Contract number: FP7-211863

 

4. Type of project (large CP, small CP, NoE, SCA, SICA, etc) 

 

Small Collaborative Project

 

5. Summary / objectives

 

The aim of the proposed DISCO project is to develop more efficient and therefore more cost-effective cellulosic and hemicellulosic enzyme tools for the enhanced hydrolysis of pre-treated lignocellulosic biomass in simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) conditions for bioethanol production. The focus will be on enzymes having increased catalytic activity on various types of relevant European lignocellulosic biomass. In addition enzymes with lower affinity for lignin shall also be developed.

Such enzymes would increase the effective amount of cellulases/ hemicellulases for cellulose hydrolysis. Furthermore the recycling of these enzymes would be applicable. The approach in this proposal is to discover the desired activities by combining classical and modern screening technologies. The enzymes will be produced in suitable host systems for industrial enzyme production. The project also focuses on elucidation of enzymatic hydrolysis mechanisms, about which there is a paucity of knowledge. The project will determine the limiting structural factors in these mechanisms by characterisation of the substrate during the course of the hydrolysis and the remaining recalcitrant residue.

 

6. Participants & addresses

 

1. Technical Research Centre of Finland (FI)
2. Wageningen University (NL)
3. Institute of Food Research (UK)
4. University of Helsinki (FI)
5. Institute of Biochemistry (RU)
6. Budapest University of Technology and Economics (HU)
7. Dyadic Nederland BV (NL)
8. Biogold OU (EE)
9. GR Wright & Sons Ltd (UK)
10. SEKAB E-Technology (SE)
11. Cooperatie Cehave Landbouwbelang U.A. (NL)

 

7. Project website

 

Project weblink: www.disco-project.eu/index.htm