Abstract: The invention relates to an isolated polypeptide having esterase activity comprising an amino acid sequence shown in any one of SEQ ID NO's 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 or 14 or a homologue thereof, comprising an amino acid substitution or deletion of one or more amino acids as shown in said SEQ ID NO's and resulting in a mutant polypeptide having an increased concentration of the fraction of the mutant polypeptide being present as an active and soluble protein in cleared lysate of the mutant polypeptide expressed in E. coli relative to the concentration of the fraction of the polypeptide without the mutation being present as an active and soluble protein in cleared lysate of the polypeptide without the one or more deletion or substitution expressed in E. coli under the same conditions. The invention also relates to nucleic acid encoding the polypeptides according to the invention, and the use of the polypeptides.

Abstract: The invention provides a non-naturally occurring microbial organism having n-propanol and isopropanol pathways, 1,4-butanediol (14-BDO) and isopropanol pathways, 1,3-butanediol (13-BDO) and isopropanol pathways or methylacrylic acid (MAA) and isopropanol pathways. The microbial organism contains at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding an enzyme in each of the respective n-propanol, 14-BDO, 13-BDO or MAA and isopropanol pathways. The invention additionally provides a method for co-producing n-propanol and isopropanol, 14-BDO and isopropanol, 13-BDO and isopropanol or MAA and isopropanol. The method can include culturing an n-propanol and an isopropanol co-producing microbial organism, where the microbial organism expresses at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding an n-propanol, an isopropanol, a 14-BDO, a 13-BDO and/or a MAA pathway enzyme in a sufficient amount to produce each of the respective products, under conditions and for a sufficient period of time to produce each of the respective products.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for biologically treating carbon dioxide using the sulfur-oxidizing chemolithoautotroph Sulfurovum lithotrophicum 42BKT. The method of the present invention may enable carbon dioxide to be fixed or converted in high-concentration and high-pressure conditions which do not allow the biological photosynthetic conversion of microalgae or the like, and may exhibit high efficiency in the fixation of carbon dioxide as compared to existing methods for biologically treating carbon dioxide using microalgae. Further, the method of the present invention may use a gas mixture without a process of separating nitrogen and other gases, thus simplifying the process of the fixation or conversion of carbon diode.

Abstract: Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful intermediates and products, such as energy, fuels, foods or materials. For example, methods are described that can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials, to produce an intermediate or product, e.g., by fermentation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having glucoamylase activity and isolated polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides.

Abstract: The invention relates to a multi-cellulase enzyme composition for the enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulosic biomass said composition comprising a cellobiohydrolase (CBH) enzyme, an endoglucanase (EG) enzyme and a ?-glucosidase (BG) enzyme.

Abstract: The invention relates to a nitrilase having improved activity in the reaction of a nitrile to form the corresponding carboxylic acid, in particular with respect to reacting 2-methylglutaronitrile, 1-(cyanomethyl)cyclohexane-1-carbonitrile, and benzonitrile. The nitrilase according to the invention is related to nitrilase from acidovorax facilis.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to biological engineering of microorganisms and production of chemical compounds therefrom. More particularly, the invention relates to novel genetically engineered microorganisms for the fermentative production of p-aminobenzoic acid and related compounds from fermentable carbon substrates. The biologically derived PABA and related compounds from fermentable carbon substrates can be used in a number of applications including as a food supplement or raw materials for the syntheses of other industrial chemicals or polymers.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a business method and system for generating sugars and recycling a non-biomass component from a waste stream. In some embodiments, a waste stream comprising cellulose and a non-biomass component is saccharified to produce glucose, followed by recovery of the glucose and non-biomass component, which may be recycled to another site associated with production of a cellulose-containing product that contains the non-biomass component. In certain scenarios, the waste stream is generated at a first location, cellulose pretreatment (if desired) and hydrolysis are conducted at a second location, and the non-biomass component is recycled to the first location or a third location. The non-biomass component may include metals, metal oxides, salts, organic compounds, inorganic compounds, oligomers, or polymers, for example.

Abstract: The invention relates to the microbial fermentation of gaseous substrates to produce one or more products. The invention relates to the microbial fermentation of a gaseous substrate derived from the conversion of a biogas stream. The invention relates to the conversion of a biogas stream comprising methane to a gaseous substrate comprising CO or CO plus H2, and the production of one or more products from the microbial fermentation of said gaseous substrate.

Abstract: The present invention provides endoglucanase 1b (EG1b) variants suitable for use in saccharification reactions. The present application further provides genetically modified fungal organisms that produce EG1b variants, as well as enzyme mixtures exhibiting enhanced hydrolysis of cellulosic material to fermentable sugars, enzyme mixtures produced by the genetically modified fungal organisms, and methods for producing fermentable sugars from cellulose using such enzyme mixtures.

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: The technology relates, in certain aspects, to the use of novel extreme thermophile microorganisms, which are able to convert lignocellulosic biomass to carboxylic acids, in particular to lactic acid and/or acetic acid, salts or esters thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a mutant, non-naturally occurring or transgenic plant cell comprising: (i) at least one polynucleotide comprising, consisting or consisting essentially of a sequence encoding an isopropylmalate synthase and having at least 60% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:10 or SEQ ID NO: 12 or SEQ ID NO:14; or (ii) a polypeptide encoded by said polynucleotide(s); or (iii) a polypeptide having at least 60% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:11 or SEQ ID NO:13 or SEQ ID NO:15; or (iv) a construct, vector or expression vector comprising said polynucleotide sequence(s), optionally wherein said construct, vector or expression vector additionally comprises a promoter comprising, consisting or consisting essentially of the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:8 or a variant thereof with at least about 60% identity thereto or a trichome promoter.

Abstract: The subject of the present invention is a process for synthesizing bifunctional hydrocarbon-based compounds from biomass, comprising a step of fermentation of the biomass and a step of oxidation of the intermediate compounds resulting from the fermentation step.

Abstract: Processes are described for fractionating lignocellulosic biomass into cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, comprising fractionating lignocellulosic biomass in the presence of a solvent for lignin (such as ethanol), a hydrolysis catalyst (such as sulfur dioxide), and water, to produce a liquor containing hemicellulose, cellulose-rich solids, and lignin; hydrolyzing the hemicellulose to produce hemicellulosic monomers; saccharifying the cellulose-rich solids to produce glucose; recovering the hemicellulosic monomers and the glucose, separately or in a combined stream, as fermentable sugars; and fermenting the fermentable sugars to a fermentation product having a higher normal boiling point than water. Process integration of mass and/or energy is disclosed in many specific embodiments. The fermentation product may include an organic acid, an alcohol, a diol, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: The invention provides a non-naturally occurring microbial organism having a 2-hydroxyisobutyric acid, 3-hydroxyisobutyric acid or methacrylic acid pathway. The microbial organism contains at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding an enzyme in a 2-hydroxyisobutyric acid, 3-hydroxyisobutyric acid or methacrylic acid pathway. The invention additionally provides a method for producing 2-hydroxyisobutyric acid, 3-hydroxyisobutyric acid or methacrylic acid. The method can include culturing a 2-hydroxyisobutyric acid, 3-hydroxyisobutyric acid or methacrylic acid producing microbial organism expressing at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding a 2-hydroxyisobutyric acid, 3-hydroxyisobutyric acid or methacrylic acid pathway enzyme in a sufficient amount and culturing under conditions and for a sufficient period of time to produce 2-hydroxyisobutyric acid, 3-hydroxyisobutyric acid or methacrylic acid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to mutated and/or transformed microorganisms for the synthesis of various compounds. More specifically, the present invention discloses microorganisms mutated in the genes encoding for the regulators ArcA and IclR. The latter mutations result in a significant upregulation of the genes that are part of the colanic acid operon. Hence, said microorganisms are useful for the synthesis of any compound being part of the colanic acid pathway such as GDP-fucose, GDP-mannose and colanic acid, and/or, can be further used—starting form GDP-fucose as a precursor—to synthesize fucosylated oligosaccharides or—starting from GDP-mannose as a precursor—to synthesize mannosylated oligosaccharides. In addition, mutations in the genes coding for the transcriptional regulators ArcA and IclR lead to an acid resistance phenotype in the exponential growth phase allowing the synthesis of pH sensitive molecules or organic acids.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel bacteria and the uses thereof. The invention particularly relates to bacteria having a metabolic pathway ratio between Pentose phosphate and glycolysis greater than 0.5, and their uses in the chemical, pharmaceutical or agro-chemical industries, e.g., for producing compounds of industrial interest.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to biocatalytic methods or processes for the synthesis of acrylic acid and its derivatives, or other carboxylic acid compounds of the formula R—CO2H, wherein R is a carbon chain of 5 carbons or fewer, such as methacrylic acid or 3-hydroxypropionic acid. More specifically, the disclosure relates to methods of using an acyl-CoA hydrolase (such as a thioesterase) as a biocatalyst for the hydrolysis (and removal of the CoA moiety) of a substrate acyl-CoA compound to produce the corresponding carboxylic acid compound, such as acrylic acid. In some embodiments, the disclosure provides non-naturally occurring microorganisms that have been transformed with a heterologous acyl-CoA hydrolase, such as a thioesterase, that is capable of hydrolyzing an acyl-CoA produced in a pathway of the microorganism and produce the corresponding carboxylic acid compound, thereby allowing methods for the direct fermentative production of the compound.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a means for producing an optically active tropic acid that is a compound useful as a synthetic raw material or an intermediate for pharmaceutical products and the like. The present invention provides a novel polypeptide having activity to (R)-selectively hydrolyze a racemic tropic acid amide, DNA encoding the polypeptide, a vector containing the DNA, a transformant prepared by transformation with the vector, and a method for producing an optically active carboxylic acid amide and an optically active carboxylic acid using them.

Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having xylanase activity and polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a mini-emulsion which comprises at least one hydrolase, where the continuous phase of the mini-emulsion contains at least one oxidant, while the dispersed phase comprises at least one C6-60 carboxylic acid and optionally at least one reactant. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method of preparing the mini-emulsion and to a process for the preparation of C6-60 percarboxylic acids and to a process for the preparation of an oxidized reactant, in each case using the abovementioned mini-emulsions.

Abstract: This invention relates to metabolically engineered microorganism strains, such as bacterial strains, in which there is an increased utilization of malonyl-CoA for production of a chemical product, which includes 3-hydroxypropionic acid.

Abstract: Biomass feedstocks (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) are processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems are described that can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials and/or starchy materials, to produce a product or intermediate, e.g., energy, a food, a fuel, or a material.

Abstract: Methods and systems for producing and removing C6 and/or C8 carboxylates and/or methane from carbohydrate containing biomass, an alcohol, and mixtures of microorganisms under an anaerobic environment. The C6 and/or C8 carboxylates are removed continuously or in-line. Methanogenesis is not inhibited and very little input carbon is lost as carbon dioxide.

Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having endoglucanase activity and isolated polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods for producing and using the polypeptides.

Abstract: A process for production of C5 and C6 sugar enriched syrups from lignocellulosic biomass and fermentation products therefrom is described. A lignocellulosic biomass is treated with a C1-C2 acid (e.g., acetic acid) with washing thereof with a C1-C2 acid miscible organic solvent, (e.g., ethyl acetate). A soluble hemicellulose and lignin enriched fraction is obtained separately from a cellulose pulp enriched fraction and lignin is removed from the soluble hemicellulose fraction. These fractions contain acylated (e.g., acetylated) cellulose and hemicellulose, which are deacylated by treatment with an alkali and/or with an acetyl esterase enzyme. The deacylated fractions are then digested with suitable cellulolytic and/or hemicellulolytic enzymes, preferably in the presence of non-ionic detergent to yield the C5 and C6 enriched syrups.

Abstract: A method is provided for improving enzymatic hydrolysis in saccharification of a lignocellulosic material. The method is comprising pretreating the lignocellulosic material to obtain a slurry of pretreated lignocellulosic material; adding at least one reducing agent to the slurry of pretreated lignocellulosic material or the liquid fraction thereof to decrease the enzymatic hydrolysis inhibitory properties of slurry of the pretreated lignocellulosic material or the liquid fraction thereof; and subjecting the slurry of pretreated lignocellulosic material or the liquid fraction thereof to enzymatic hydrolysis in the presence of the at least one reducing agent.

Abstract: The present application provide methods for producing ethanol from a biomass. The methods combine sugars produced from a feedstock containing starch with sugars produced from a cellulosic biomass. The methods allow increased amounts of ethanol to be produced from a given solids concentration in the fermenters. The methods also encompass filtering the liquefied feedstock mash through a filter comprising biomass fibers. The biomass filter produces a post-filtered mash stream comprising a high concentration of sugars and a low concentration of non-fermentable solids. The methods provide numerous advantages described herein.

Abstract: The invention provides a non-naturally occurring microbial organism having a 2-hydroxyisobutyric acid, 3-hydroxyisobutyric acid or methacrylic acid pathway. The microbial organism contains at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding an enzyme in a 2-hydroxyisobutyric acid, 3-hydroxyisobutyric acid or methacrylic acid pathway. The invention additionally provides a method for producing 2-hydroxyisobutyric acid, 3-hydroxyisobutyric acid or methacrylic acid. The method can include culturing a 2-hydroxyisobutyric acid, 3-hydroxyisobutyric acid or methacrylic acid producing microbial organism expressing at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding a 2-hydroxyisobutyric acid, 3-hydroxyisobutyric acid or methacrylic acid pathway enzyme in a sufficient amount and culturing under conditions and for a sufficient period of time to produce 2-hydroxyisobutyric acid, 3-hydroxyisobutyric acid or methacrylic acid.

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: The present invention relates to recombinant filamentous fungal host cells producing cellulolytic enzyme compositions and methods of producing and using the compositions.

Abstract: This invention provides processes to convert biomass, including wood and agricultural residues, to levulinic acid and co-products. Some variations treat feedstock with steam and/or hot water to produce an extract liquor containing hemicellulosic oligomers, lignin, and cellulose-rich solids, wherein the hemicellulosic oligomers comprise C5 hemicelluloses and C6 hemicelluloses; separate the cellulose-rich solids from the extract liquor, to produce dewatered solids containing cellulose and lignin; dehydrate the hemicellulosic oligomers to convert the C6 hemicelluloses directly to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural; and convert the 5-hydroxymethylfurfural to levulinic acid. Also, the cellulose may be dehydrated directly to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, which may then be converted to additional levulinic acid. Various biorefinery embodiments are disclosed, in which C5 and C6 sugars are processed separately or in combination.

Abstract: Provided are isolated polypeptides having endoglucanase activity and polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. Also provided are nucleic acid constructs, vectors and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides.

Abstract: Methods and materials related to producing 3-HP as well as other organic compounds are disclosed. Specifically, isolated nucleic acids, polypeptides, host cells, and methods and materials for producing 3-HP and other organic compounds are disclosed.

Abstract: Carbon-containing materials, such as biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) or coal are processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems are described that can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials and/or starchy materials, to produce ethanol.

Abstract: Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful intermediates and products, such as energy, fuels, foods or materials. For example, methods are described that can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials, to produce an intermediate or product, e.g., by fermentation.

Abstract: Provided are isolated polypeptides having xylanase activity, catalytic domains and cellulose binding domains, and polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides, catalytic domains or cellulose binding domains. Also provided are nucleic acid constructs, vectors and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides, catalytic domains or cellulose binding domains.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polypeptides having xylanase activity, catalytic domains, and carbohydrate binding domains, and polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides, catalytic domains, and carbohydrate binding domains. The present invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides, catalytic domains, and carbohydrate binding domains.

Abstract: A method of producing a sugar liquid using a cellulose-containing biomass as a raw material includes (a) hydrolyzing a cellulose-containing biomass to produce an aqueous sugar solution and (b) filtering the obtained aqueous sugar solution through a reverse osmosis membrane to collect a purified sugar liquid from a feed side, while removing fermentation-inhibiting substances from a permeate side.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the conversion of lignocellulose into an organic acid including an alkaline pretreatment step and a fermentation step, wherein liquid phase obtained in the fermentation step is recycled to the alkaline pretreatment step and/or the fermentation step. Organic acid is recovered as its magnesium of calcium salt from solid phase obtained in the fermentation step.

Abstract: Provided herein is a non-naturally occurring microbial organism having a methanol metabolic pathway that can enhance the availability of reducing equivalents in the presence of methanol. Such reducing equivalents can be used to increase the product yield of organic compounds produced by the microbial organism, such as 3-hydroxyisobutyrate or MAA. Also provided herein are methods for using such an organism to produce 3-hydroxyisobutyrate or MAA.

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: A method of producing hydrolysate from cellulosic material by adding hydrothermally treated stillage or a fraction thereof to cellulosic material, treating the mixture of hydrothermally treated stillage and cellulosic material with at least one hydrolyzing enzyme, and hydrolyzing and converting complex carbohydrates in the cellulosic material. The hydrolysate produced by the method. Ethanol, organic acids, and organism metabolites produced by the method. Biomass produced by the method. A method of increasing sugar production rate and yield of sugars from cellulosic material by adding hydrothermally treated stillage or a fraction thereof to cellulosic material, treating the mixture of hydrothermally treated stillage and cellulosic material with at least one hydrolyzing enzyme, and hydrolyzing complex carbohydrates in the cellulosic material and forming sugars.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a process to produce organic products from a single-carbon substrate; microbial compositions used in the process; and a process to isolate microorganisms for the process.

Abstract: Lignocellulosic biomass pretreated with ammonia where the concentration of the biomass in the reaction mixture is reduced over time was found to produce more sugars following saccharification, as compared to equivalent biomass pretreated at constant concentration. The concentration of biomass is a solids concentration, which is the percent of dry biomass relative to the total pretreatment reaction mixture on a weight to weight basis.

Abstract: Provided are isolated polypeptides having beta-xylosidase activity and polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. Also provided are nucleic acid constructs, vectors and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides.