Saccharification of cellulosic biomass for the fermentation of transportation fuels faces several challenges. Cellulose is highly stable, and even with enzymatic assistance, decomposition of cellulose is slow. Additionally, the enzymes are expensive and sensitive to thermal and mechanical inactivation. In this work, we studied the effects of moderate electric field (MEF, in the range from 1 to 1000 V per cm) treatments on the effectiveness of enzymatic saccharification. MEF treatments were applied to determine their effects on enzyme activity. We considered the effects of field strength, frequency, application regime and temperature. It was found that the enzyme responded to alterations in the frequency of the waveform, with 50 to 60 Hz maximizing the effects of the field, although the effects of field strength and application regime were more significant. It was found that the electric field could have a positive, negative, or negligible effect depending on the field strength. Most notably, when MEF treatments were applied over a range of temperatures, it was found that MEF treatment significantly improved enzyme activity at lower temperatures, leading to the observation that MEF treatment imitates a temperature increase. Calculations simulating the electrophoretic motion of the enzymes verified that the magnitude of motion associated with the MEF treatments was qualitatively similar to the change in molecular motion associated with temperature increases.

中文翻译：

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中等电场处理可在低于最佳温度下增强纤维素的酶水解

用于发酵运输燃料的纤维素生物质的糖化面临几个挑战。纤维素高度稳定，即使在酶促作用下，纤维素的分解也很慢。此外，这些酶价格昂贵且对热和机械失活敏感。在这项工作中，我们研究了中等电场（MEF，范围为 1 到 1000 V/cm）处理对酶糖化有效性的影响。应用 MEF 处理来确定它们对酶活性的影响。我们考虑了场强、频率、应用方式和温度的影响。发现酶对波形频率的变化有反应，50 到 60 Hz 使场的影响最大化，尽管场强和应用制度的影响更为显着。发现电场可能具有正、负或可忽略的影响，具体取决于场强。最值得注意的是，当在一定温度范围内应用 MEF 处理时，发现 MEF 处理显着提高了较低温度下的酶活性，导致观察到 MEF 处理模拟温度升高。模拟酶的电泳运动的计算证实了与 MEF 处理相关的运动幅度在性质上类似于与温度升高相关的分子运动变化。当在一定温度范围内应用 MEF 处理时，发现 MEF 处理显着提高了较低温度下的酶活性，导致观察到 MEF 处理模拟温度升高。模拟酶的电泳运动的计算证实了与 MEF 处理相关的运动幅度在性质上类似于与温度升高相关的分子运动变化。当在一定温度范围内应用 MEF 处理时，发现 MEF 处理显着提高了较低温度下的酶活性，导致观察到 MEF 处理模拟温度升高。模拟酶的电泳运动的计算证实了与 MEF 处理相关的运动幅度在性质上类似于与温度升高相关的分子运动变化。