Trees with altered lignin are better for biofuels, study shows

By engineering a novel enzyme involved in lignin synthesis, scientists have altered the lignin in plant cell walls in a way that increases access to biofuel building blocks without inhibiting plant growth. Lignin is a natural component of plant cell walls, the scaffolding that surrounds each cell and plays a pivotal role in plants' ability to grow against gravity and reach heights ranging from stubbly grasses to the sky-scraping splendor of redwoods.