Plant Cell Wall Form and Function

Structural and mechanical supportDetermines cell shape Resist turgor pressure of cell. Control rate and direction of growth Regulates diffusion of material Carbohydrate storage Plant defense against pathogensBiologically active signalling molecule Cell-cell interactions

The Plant Cell Wall

Glucuronoarabinoxylan (GAX)

Lignin

OH OH

OH

H

Biomass to EthanolBiomass

Feedstock

“Deconstructed”Biomass

Ethanol

Monosaccharides(Glucose and Xylose)

Pretreatment

Hydrolysis

Fermentation

+ 2 Pi + 2 ATP 2 CH3CH2OH + 2 CO2 + 2 ATP

Glucuronoarabinoxylan (GAX)