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Scientists in the Bioenergy Research Unit (BER) develop bioproducts and bioprocesses to convert agricultural commodities, bioenergy crops, commercial byproducts, and crop residues into polymers, enzymes, biofuels and chemicals.
 **Stress-Tolerant Microbes:** A stress-response protein tagged with Green Fluorescent Protein shows a change in location from the cell cytoplasm (diffuse staining) to the cell nucleus (concentrated staining) upon exposure to a fermentation inhibitor.  BER scientists are using this response protein to generate robust microorganisms for biofuel production.
 **Industrial Enzymes and Microorganisms:** A fungal species (*Coniochaeta*) is found in soil, plants, and decomposing wood.  BER scientists are using this organism as an untapped source of enzymes for conversion of fibrous plant material into fuels and chemicals. This magnified image shows a *Coniochaeta* strain growing in association with wheat straw.
 **Industrial Enzymes and Microorganisms:** Fungal cells (*Coniochaeta*) stained for computer assisted counting.  Staining of the cells shows the difference between live (green) and dead (red) cells.  BER scientists use this organism to digest chemicals that are typically inhibitory to microorganism growth and fermentation.
 **Production of Biofuels & Chemicals from Lignocellulosic Biomass:** A fungus that is capable of using biomass sugars to produce itaconic acid via fermentation (left frame).  BER scientists are using morphology (e.g. size and shape) and a color-based assay (right frame, red=high; yellow=low) to identify nutrient parameters for increased product yield.
 **Production of Biofuels & Chemicals from Lignocellulosic Biomass:** Brewer’s yeast cells expressing a membrane protein involved in transporting sugar into the cell.  BER scientists are improving transport of biomass-derived sugars to increase product yields.  To visualize the cellular location of the protein, it was fused to another protein that glows green.


**Mission Statement:** The Bioenergy Research Unit (BER) conducts a broad-based program of microbial, biochemical, genetic, and fermentation engineering research that is international in scope and importance addressing national research needs for new environmentally acceptable agricultural practices and value-added products. The overall mission of the BER research program is to develop bioproducts and bioprocesses for conversion of agricultural commodities into biofuels and chemicals, enzymes, and polymers.


Publications
                            More... Novel technologies for butyric acid fermentation: use of cellulosic biomass, rapid bioreactor, and efficient product recovery


Midwest Area   nancy.nichols@usda.gov


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