GM Lawn Grass with More Digestible Cell Wall

Plant cell walls are composed of several carbohydrate chains like cellulose and hemicellulose. These polymers are cross-linked by the compound lignin, conferring mechanical strength to the cell wall. Such cross-links hinder cell wall degradation by ruminant microbes and thus reducing plant digestibility. Scientists from UK’s Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research obtained fescue grasses with increased cell wall digestibility by introducing a fungal gene that disrupts lignin polymer formation. The gene encodes a fungal enzyme which when expressed causes the disassembly of lignin chains. Heat shock and senescence promoters (regulatory DNA sequences) were used for the targeted expression of the gene. Using the strategy, fescue and other grass species can be utilized for fodder or cellulosic ethanol production.

The abstract of the paper published by the Plant Biotechnology Journal, including links to the full paper, is available at http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1467-7652.2007.00317.x