A comparison of the simulations showed weaker interaction between hemicellulose and the modified lignin than with wild lignin, suggesting that hydrophobic lignin interacts less with hydrophilic hemicellulose.
The team's conclusion — that hydrophobic, or water repelling, lignin binds less with hydrophilic, or water attracting, hemicellulose — points researchers toward a promising way to engineer better plants for biofuel.