Blog Post Image: How a Microbial Biorefinery Regulates Genes

The protein PcaV in the presence of protocatechuate. Digesting lignin, a very stable, plentiful polymer in biomass, is a limiting step in the production of biofuels. Brown researchers have identified a microscopic chemical switch that lets bacteria get to work, breaking lignin down into its component parts. Image credit: Sello lab/Brown University