Biomass-Degrading Enzymes
The Laboratory of Glycobiology focuses on enzymology of carbohydrate active enzymes, thus proteins that degrade, modify or create glycosidic bonds. Important insights have been gained in the performance and mechanism of cellulases and hemicellulases (e.g. xylanases, mannases, etc.) from different origin. Members of this group of enzymes are already used in important biotechnological applications (pulp and paper, baking, textiles, detergent and animal feeding industry), and have a high potential for applications in the production of bio-ethanol from cellulose-rich stocks and/or waste. One of the many enzyme systems studied in this laboratory is that from the fungus Trichoderma reesei, a very efficient producer of biomass-degrading enzymes and regarded as the model organism to which other biomass-degrading organisms are compared.

Department of Biochemistry, Physiology en Microbiology
K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35
B-9000 Ghent
Tel: +32 9 264 52 72
kathleen.piens@ugent.be