The University of British Columbia
UBC - A Place of Mind
The University of British Columbia Okanagan campus
The Exchange
  • The Exchange
  • Previous Editions
  • Faculty and staff news
  • Employee stories
  • Research spotlight
  • Workshops
ExchangeBlogBanner
Home / 2013 / May / 15 / Okanagan discovery powers biofuel research at Berkeley

Okanagan discovery powers biofuel research at Berkeley

By Bud Mortenson on May 15, 2013

Soheil Mahmoud

Biologist Soheil Mahmoud in the lab with lavender plants.

Researchers at the University of California at Berkeley have used a gene identified and characterized at UBC's Okanagan campus to improve how bacteria convert biomass into fuel.

In research published in the journal Planta [Demissie ZA, Sarker L, and Mahmoud SS 2011, Planta 233: 685-696], Soheil Mahmoud's team in the Irving K. Barber School of Arts and Sciences identified the gene that makes the monoterpene β-phellandrene, a biochemical compound that contributes to the essential oil and scent in lavender plants.

The Berkeley researchers used the gene to demonstrate that cyanobacteria are capable of producing β-phellandrene as a potential biofuel molecule. It turns out that β-phellandrene synthase makes a big difference in how much fuel the bacteria are able to generate. The Berkeley research was published in March in the journal Bioenergy Research.

Posted in Research Spotlight | Tagged Irving K. Barber School of Arts and Sciences

Contact

Bud Mortenson
Director
University Relations

The University of British Columbia
Okanagan campus
Tel: 250-807-9255
E-mail: bud.mortenson@ubc.ca

See other posts by Bud Mortenson

Categories

  • News
  • People
  • Research Spotlight
  • Uncategorized
  • Workshops

Archives

The Exchange
Okanagan Campus
3333 University Way
Kelowna, BC Canada V1V 1V7
Back to top
The University of British Columbia
  • Emergency Procedures |
  • Terms of Use |
  • Copyright |
  • Accessibility