Xylose fermentation efficiency of industrial Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast with separate or combined xylose reductase/xylitol dehydrogenase and xylose isomerase pathways

Abstract

This study clearly shows an advantage of using the XI from <i>Clostridium phytofermentans</i> to attain high ethanol productivities and yields from xylose. Furthermore, and for the first time, the simultaneous utilization of XR/XDH and XI pathways was compared to the single expression of XR/XDH or XI and was found to improve ethanol production from non-detoxified hemicellulosic hydrolysates. These results extend the knowledge regarding <i>S. cerevisiae</i> xylose assimilation metabolism and pave the way for the construction of more efficient strains for use in lignocellulosic industrial processes.