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An ethanologenic yeast exhibiting unusual metabolism in the fermentation of lignocellulosic hexose sugars

  • Original Paper
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Journal of Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology

Abstract

Three lignocellulosic substrate mixtures [liquid fraction of acid-catalyzed steam-exploded softwood, softwood spent sulfite liquor (SSL) and hardwood SSL] were separately fermented by the industrially employed SSL-adapted strain Tembec T1 and a natural galactose-assimilating isolate (Y-1528) of Saccharomyces cerevisiae to compare fermentative efficacy. Both strains were confirmed as S. cerevisiae via molecular genotyping. The performance of strain Y-1528 exceeded that of Tembec T1 on all three substrate mixtures, with complete hexose sugar consumption ranging from 10 to 18 h for Y-1528, vs 24 to 28 h for T1. Furthermore, Y-1528 consumed galactose prior to glucose and mannose, in contrast to Tembec T1, which exhibited catabolite repression of galactose metabolism. Ethanol yields were comparable regardless of the substrate utilized. Strains T1 and Y-1528 were also combined in mixed culture to determine the effects of integrating their distinct metabolic capabilities during defined hexose sugar and SSL fermentations. Sugar consumption in the defined mixture was accelerated, with complete exhaustion of hexose sugars occurring in just over 6 h. Galactose was consumed first, followed by glucose and mannose. Ethanol yields were slightly reduced relative to pure cultures of Y-1528, but normal growth kinetics was not impeded. Sugar consumption in the SSLs was also accelerated, with complete utilization of softwood- and hardwood-derived hexose sugars occurring in 6 and 8 h, respectively. Catabolite repression was absent in both SSL fermentations.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Natural Resources Canada, USDA Cooperative Agreement No. 58-3620-2-F155, and the Science Council of British Columbia. The authors thank Cletus P. Kurtzman of the National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research (USDA) for provision of S. cerevisiae Y-1528, and Brad Greatrix of the Wine Research Centre (UBC) for provision of S. cerevisiae BY4742.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Forest Products Biotechnology, Department of Wood Science, University of British Columbia, 2424 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6T 1Z4

    J. D. Keating, J. Robinson, J. N. Saddler & S. D. Mansfield

  2. Fermentation Biotechnology Research, National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, 1815 N. University St., Peoria, IL 61604-3999, USA

    M. A. Cotta

Authors
  1. J. D. Keating
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  2. J. Robinson
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  3. M. A. Cotta
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  4. J. N. Saddler
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  5. S. D. Mansfield
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Correspondence to S. D. Mansfield.

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Keating, J.D., Robinson, J., Cotta, M.A. et al. An ethanologenic yeast exhibiting unusual metabolism in the fermentation of lignocellulosic hexose sugars. J IND MICROBIOL BIOTECHNOL 31, 235–244 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10295-004-0145-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10295-004-0145-6

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