This project is to investigate: 1) mechanisms responsible for enzyme thermal and acid stability; 2) structural features that control enzyme activity, substrate specificity, and cofactor specificity; 3) new xylose isomerases with different activities and thermo-acid stabilities; 4) strategies for creating thermo-acid-stable enzymes and catalytically improved xylose isomerases for high fructose corn syrup production; and 5) knowledge about ther performance of immobilized high temperature enzymes. The interaction between engineering and biochemistry students provided by this project is to be an excellent preparation for their future participation in the expanding fields of bioprocessing and biotechnology.
