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Tungsten is exceptionally rare in biological systems. Thus, it came as a huge surprise to researchers when they discovered this novel enzyme in hot spring-inhabiting bacterium, Caldicellulosiruptor bescii. This tungstoenzyme plays a key role in C. bescii’s primary metabolism, and its ability to convert plant biomass to simple fermentable sugars which could lead to commercially viable conversion of cellulosic (woody) biomass to fuels and chemical feedstocks, which could substantially reduce greenhouse emissions.

Cellulosic biomass’ advantage as a feedstock for fuel and chemical production is that it need not compete with food production for land. Its big challenge is that cellulose is highly resistant to enzymatic degradation...

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