Controlled composts Metagenome. compost metagenome

In nature, microbial communities work together to enzymatically degrade recalcitrant lignocellosic biomass. Metagenomics provides a means to accessing the enzymatic machinery of these complex microbial consortia. In the present study, controlled composting of lignocellulosic materials was used to enrich for lignocellulose-degrading microbial species. DNA isolated from these composts was used to construct metagenomic libraries that were screened for novel xylanase enzymes.