A research team led by Specially Appointed Assistant Professor Sahar Hamido and Professor Hiroshi Tamaru at the Research Center for Green X-Tech (Green Goals Initiative, Tohoku University) has fully elucidated the enzyme system of the anaerobic cellulosome-producing bacterium Clostridium cellulovorans. Through proteomic analysis, the team identified the specific enzymes effective for the decomposition and saccharification of sorghum bagasse (the fibrous residue left after juice extraction).

This research was conducted with the support of the Fukushima Institute for Research, Education and Innovation (F-REI). It focuses on the cultivation of sorghum—a valuable resource crop—in the Hamadori region of Fukushima Prefecture, and the advanced utilization of sorghum bagasse (the residue remaining after juice extraction) as an untapped biomass source.

These findings have significantly deepened our understanding of which enzyme groups effectively act on plant residues like sorghum bagasse. Moving forward, the team aims to develop “enzyme cocktails” tailored to a wide range of unused biomass, including local agricultural residues, food waste, and waste paper. This progress is expected to improve the efficiency of biobutanol production and contribute to the creation of next-generation green products, such as Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).

Publication Information

• Title: Proteomic Characterization of the Clostridium cellulovorans Cellulosome and Noncellulosomal Enzymes with Sorghum Bagasse
• Authors: Mohamed Yahia Eljonaid, Fumiyoshi Okazaki, Eiji Hishinuma, Naomi Matsukawa, Sahar Hamido, Yutaka Tamaru
• Journal: International Journal of Molecular Sciences
• Published: December 3, 2025
• DOI: 10.3390/ijms262311728