Development of an assay for saccharide detection

Lignocellulosic biomass, one of the most abundant forms of biomass, is a polysaccharide waste material with the potential to serve as a good carbon source for cell systems [1]. Cellulose, a primary component of lignocellulosic biomass, is a polysaccharide composed of glucose monomers. Bioengineered cell systems that rely on glucose can therefore be fed with degraded cellulosic waste material. The development of an assay for saccharide detection will allow rapid and simple screening for the presence of degraded complex sugars. 3,5-dinitrosalycilic acid, DNS, is a mild oxidizing agent which reacts with exposed aldehydes of saccharides, causing a quantifiable colorimetric change. Here we describe the development of a set of assays for saccharide detection that allow for characterization of polysaccharide content. We anticipate using this novel assay in combination with unique cellulases to effectively digest cellulosic biomass for utilization in glucose-dependent bioengineered cell consortia.