Abstract: In an alcohol fermentation process, oil derived from biomass is hydrolyzed into an extractant available for in situ removal of a product alcohol such as butanol from a fermentation broth. The glycerides in the oil can be catalytically (e.g., enzymatically) hydrolyzed into free fatty acids, which form a fermentation product extractant having a partition coefficient for a product alcohol greater than a partition coefficient of the oil of the biomass for the product alcohol. Oil derived from a feedstock of an alcohol fermentation process can be hydrolyzed by contacting the feedstock including the oil with one or more enzymes whereby at least a portion of the oil is hydrolyzed into free fatty acids forming a fermentation product extractant, or the oil can be separated from the feedstock prior to the feedstock being fed to a fermentation vessel, and the separated oil can be contacted with the enzymes to form the fermentation product extractant.

Abstract: Compositions are disclosed herein comprising dextran that comprises (i) 87-93 wt % glucose linked at positions 1 and 6; (ii) 0.1-1.2 wt % glucose linked at positions 1 and 3; (iii) 0.1-0.7 wt % glucose linked at positions 1 and 4; (iv) 7.7-8.6 wt % glucose linked at positions 1, 3 and 6; and (v) about 0.4-1.7 wt % glucose linked at (a) positions 1, 2 and 6, or (b) positions 1, 4 and 6. Aqueous forms of this composition have enhanced viscosity profiles. Further disclosed are methods of using compositions comprising dextran, such as increasing the viscosity of an aqueous composition. Enzymatic reactions for producing dextran are also disclosed.

Abstract: An alcohol fermentation process and composition that includes production of alcohol esters by esterification of product alcohol in a fermentation medium with a carboxylic acid (e.g., fatty acid) and a catalyst (e.g., lipase) capable of esterifying the product alcohol, such as butanol, with the carboxylic acid to form the alcohol esters. The alcohol esters can be extracted from the fermentation medium, and the product alcohol recovered from the alcohol esters. The carboxylic acid can also serve as an extractant for removal of the alcohol esters from the fermentation medium.

Abstract: Described herein are packages for storing and dispensing multi-part tooth whitening formulations, comprising a deformable material configured to form two or more sealed chambers, e.g., wherein the first chamber contains a low viscosity liquid solution comprising an enzyme having perhydrolytic activity, and the second chamber contains a peroxide source and a at least one acyl donor substrate. Particular multi-part tooth whitening formulations using this principle and methods of use thereof are also provided.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for hydrolyzing an alpha-1,3 or alpha-1,6 glucosyl-glucose linkage in a saccharide (disaccharide or oligosaccharide). This method comprises contacting the saccharide with an alpha-glucosidase enzyme such as transglucosidase under suitable conditions, during which contacting step the enzyme hydrolyzes at least one alpha-1,3 or alpha-1,6 glucosyl-glucose linkage of the saccharide. This method is useful for reducing the amount of oligosaccharides in a filtrate isolated from a glucan synthesis reaction, for example.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for hydrolyzing an alpha-1,5 glucosyl-fructose linkage in a saccharide (disaccharide or oligosaccharide) such as leucrose. This method comprises contacting the saccharide with an alpha-glucosidase enzyme such as transglucosidase or glucoamylase under suitable conditions, during which contacting step the enzyme hydrolyzes at least one alpha-1,5 glucosyl-fructose linkage of the saccharide. This method is useful for reducing the amount of leucrose in a filtrate isolated from a glucan synthesis reaction, for example.

Abstract: An alcohol fermentation process and composition that includes production of alcohol esters by esterification of product alcohol in a fermentation medium with a carboxylic acid (e.g., fatty acid) and a catalyst (e.g., lipase) capable of esterifying the product alcohol, such as butanol, with the carboxylic acid to form the alcohol esters. The alcohol esters can be extracted from the fermentation medium, and the product alcohol recovered from the alcohol esters. The carboxylic acid can also serve as an extractant for removal of the alcohol esters from the fermentation medium.

Abstract: An acetyl xylan esterase variant having perhydrolytic activity is provided for producing peroxycarboxylic acids from carboxylic acid esters and a source of peroxygen. More specifically, a Thermotoga maritima acetyl xylan esterase gene was modified using error-prone PCR and site-directed mutagenesis to create an enzyme catalyst characterized by an increase in specific activity. The variant acetyl xylan esterase may be used to produce peroxycarboxylic acids suitable for use in a variety of applications such as cleaning, disinfecting, sanitizing, bleaching, wood pulp processing, and paper pulp processing applications.

Abstract: An acetyl xylan esterase variant having perhydrolytic activity is provided for producing peroxycarboxylic acids from carboxylic acid esters and a source of peroxygen. More specifically, a Thermotoga maritima acetyl xylan esterase gene was modified using error-prone PCR and site-directed mutagenesis to create an enzyme catalyst characterized by an increase in specific activity. The variant acetyl xylan esterase may be used to produce peroxycarboxylic acids suitable for use in a variety of applications such as cleaning, disinfecting, sanitizing, bleaching, wood pulp processing, and paper pulp processing applications.

Abstract: In an alcohol fermentation process, oil derived from biomass is hydrolyzed into an extractant available for in situ removal of a product alcohol such as butanol from a fermentation broth. The glycerides in the oil can be catalytically (e.g., enzymatically) hydrolyzed into free fatty acids, which form a fermentation product extractant having a partition coefficient for a product alcohol greater than a partition coefficient of the oil of the biomass for the product alcohol. Oil derived from a feedstock of an alcohol fermentation process can be hydrolyzed by contacting the feedstock including the oil with one or more enzymes whereby at least a portion of the oil is hydrolyzed into free fatty acids forming a fermentation product extractant, or the oil can be separated from the feedstock prior to the feedstock being fed to a fermentation vessel, and the separated oil can be contacted with the enzymes to form the fermentation product extractant.

Abstract: Acetyl xylan esterases and variants thereof having perhydrolytic activity are provided for producing peroxycarboxylic acids from carboxylic acid esters and a source of peroxygen. Multi-component peracid generation systems comprising an enzyme catalyst having perhydrolytic activity are also provided, as are methods of using the present enzyme catalyst to produce peroxycarboxylic acids. The polypeptide having perhydrolytic activity may be used to produce peroxycarboxylic acids suitable for use in a variety of applications such as cleaning, disinfecting, sanitizing, bleaching, wood pulp processing, paper pulp processing, and personal care applications.

Abstract: Fatty acids derived from biomass at a step in a fermentation process can be added to a fermentation medium comprising a recombinant microorganism that produces a product alcohol. At least one of growth rate and fermentable carbon consumption of the microorganism is greater in the presence of the fatty acids than the growth rate and the fermentable carbon consumption of the microorganism in the absence of the fatty acids. The addition of the fatty acids can increase glucose consumption, and can improve microorganism biomass production (cell growth/density) and growth rate, thereby reducing production time and increasing productivity of the fermentation process.

Abstract: Described herein are tooth whitening strips comprising an hydratable adhesive film having a granular bleaching ingredient attached thereto, wherein upon hydration, the granular bleaching ingredient releases hydrogen peroxide which is used by an enzyme catalyst having perhydrolytic activity to enzymatically produce an effective amount of peracid bleaching agent from an acyl donor substrate. Methods of making and use the tooth whitening strips are also provided.

Abstract: In an alcohol fermentation process, oil derived from biomass is hydrolyzed into an extractant available for in situ removal of a product alcohol such as butanol from a fermentation broth. The glycerides in the oil can be catalytically (e.g., enzymatically) hydrolyzed into free fatty acids, which form a fermentation product extractant having a partition coefficient for a product alcohol greater than a partition coefficient of the oil of the biomass for the product alcohol. Oil derived from a feedstock of an alcohol fermentation process can be hydrolyzed by contacting the feedstock including the oil with one or more enzymes whereby at least a portion of the oil is hydrolyzed into free fatty acids forming a fermentation product extractant, or the oil can be separated from the feedstock prior to the feedstock being fed to a fermentation vessel, and the separated oil can be contacted with the enzymes to form the fermentation product extractant.

Abstract: Acetyl xylan esterases and variants thereof having perhydrolytic activity are provided for producing peroxycarboxylic acids from carboxylic acid esters and a source of peroxygen. Multi-component peracid generation systems comprising an enzyme catalyst having perhydrolytic activity are also provided, as are methods of using the present enzyme catalyst to produce peroxycarboxylic acids. The polypeptide having perhydrolytic activity may be used to produce peroxycarboxylic acids suitable for use in a variety of applications such as cleaning, disinfecting, sanitizing, bleaching, wood pulp processing, paper pulp processing, and personal care applications.

Abstract: Acetyl xylan esterases and variants thereof having perhydrolytic activity are provided for producing peroxycarboxylic acids from carboxylic acid esters and a source of peroxygen. Multi-component peracid generation systems comprising an enzyme catalyst having perhydrolytic activity are also provided, as are methods of using the present enzyme catalyst to produce peroxycarboxylic acids. The polypeptide having perhydrolytic activity may be used to produce peroxycarboxylic acids suitable for use in a variety of applications such as cleaning, disinfecting, sanitizing, bleaching, wood pulp processing, paper pulp processing, and personal care applications.

Abstract: Acetyl xylan esterases and variants thereof having perhydrolytic activity are provided for producing peroxycarboxylic acids from carboxylic acid esters and a source of peroxygen. Multi-component peracid generation systems comprising an enzyme catalyst having perhydrolytic activity are also provided, as are methods of using the present enzyme catalyst to produce peroxycarboxylic acids. The polypeptide having perhydrolytic activity may be used to produce peroxycarboxylic acids suitable for use in a variety of applications such as cleaning, disinfecting, sanitizing, bleaching, wood pulp processing, paper pulp processing, and personal care applications.

Abstract: Acetyl xylan esterases and variants thereof having perhydrolytic activity are provided for producing peroxycarboxylic acids from carboxylic acid esters and a source of peroxygen. Multi-component peracid generation systems comprising an enzyme catalyst having perhydrolytic activity are also provided, as are methods of using the present enzyme catalyst to produce peroxycarboxylic acids. The polypeptide having perhydrolytic activity may be used to produce peroxycarboxylic acids suitable for use in a variety of applications such as cleaning, disinfecting, sanitizing, bleaching, wood pulp processing, paper pulp processing, and personal care applications.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of producing alcohol esters during a fermentation by providing alcohol-producing microorganisms which further comprise an engineered polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide having lipase activity.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions and methods to target enzymatic peracid production to a target surface. The peracid benefit agent produced by the targeted perhydrolytic enzyme can be use for a variety of applications such as bleaching, whitening, disinfecting, destaining, deodorizing, and combinations thereof. Specifically, a fusion protein comprising a perhydrolytic enzyme and at least one peptidic component having affinity for a target surface (excluding body surfaces and oral care surfaces) is used in combination with a suitable substrate and a source of peroxygen to enzymatically produce a peracid on or near the surface of the target material. In a preferred aspect, the target surface is a cellulosic material.