Obtain the fundamental knowledge necessary to develop future energy-related biotechnologies by supporting research in:

Plant Science

— Structure and function of the plant cell wall (cellulose, lignin, hemicellulose, and protein)
— Biophysical and biochemical mechanisms of photosynthesis
— Plant primary and secondary metabolism
— Genetic and biochemical mechanisms of plant growth and development
— Bioenergetics, ion uptake, and other membrane-related phenomena
— Arabidopsis sequencing efforts
— Functional plant genomics

Fermentation Microbiology

— Bioenergetics and metabolic properties of anaerobic microbes
— Degradation of lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose
— Biochemistry, genetics, and physiology of microbes that metabolize one and two carbon compounds
— Mechanisms of plant symbiotic and pathogenic interactions
— Functional microbial genomics

Extremophilic Organisms

— Biochemistry, genetics and physiology of hyperthermophilic microbes
— Biological mechanisms of adaptation to extremes of temperature, salt, pH, etc.
— Metabolism of inorganic compounds

Biomaterials and Biocatalysis

— Biosynthesis of novel materials
— Catalytic antibodies
— Detailed structural, kinetic, and biophysical characterization of energy related enzymes

Energy Biosciences Division