Genes for Xylose Fermentation, Enhanced Biofuel Production in Yeast

Technology Marketing SummaryEfficient fermentation of cellulosic feedstocks is an essential step in the production of biofuel from plant materials. Glucose and xylose are the two most abundant monomeric carbohydrates found in hemicellulose. Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the yeast most commonly used for industrial fermentation, is able to utilize glucose but is unable to ferment xylose. However, several Ascomycete yeasts that ferment and assimilate xylose have been identified, including Pichia stipitis, whose genome has recently been sequenced.DescriptionUW–Madison researchers have identified 10 genes in yeast that are involved in xylose fermentation. These genes could be used to create an organism that can ferment both xylose and glucose for enhanced biofuel production.Benefits

• Could lead to the development of an organism capable of efficiently fermenting both xylose and glucose
• May enhance the production of ethanol and other biofuels
• Significantly improved xylose growth and utilization when engineered in S. cerevisiae

Applications and IndustriesBiofuel productionMore InformationThe Inventors

• Audrey Gasch

Funding
This work was funded by the DOE Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (DOE BER Office of Science DE-FC02-07ER64494).
Technology Status

Technology ID	Development Stage	Availability	Published	Last Updated
P100245US03	Development	Available	07/02/2012	07/02/2012