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: 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: A method of pre-treating a cellulosic material before hydrolysis is provided. The method comprises the steps of: impregnating the cellulosic material with a reactive water-soluble gas, such as sulphur dioxide (SO2) or carbon dioxide (CO2), in an impregnation chamber to obtain impregnated material; and heating the impregnated material to obtain pre-treated material, wherein the cellulosic material is compressed right before or when it is transferred to the impregnation chamber. A corresponding system is also provided.

Abstract: A method for degrading a readily degradable resin composition comprising an aliphatic polyester (A) which is biodegradable, and an aliphatic polyester (B?) which releases an acid upon hydrolysis and which is biodegradable at a higher degradation rate than that of the aliphatic polyester (A), the method comprising degrading the readily degradable resin composition in an enzyme reaction liquid containing a degradation enzyme, and an acid neutralizing agent incompatible with the enzyme reaction liquid.

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: 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 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: 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: A method is provided for controlling a metabolic profile of an anaerobic microbial fermentation culture. In particular, a metabolic profile of a fermentation process is controlled by controlling the amount of dissolved CO2 provided to a culture. Further provided is a method of producing one or more products by microbial fermentation of a gaseous substrate through feeding tail gas CO2 from a reactor to a second reactor, or by recycling tail gas CO2 to the same reactor.

Abstract: Provided are isolated polypeptides having cellobiohydrolase 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: A method for producing succinic acid comprising (A) a step of converting an organic raw material to succinic acid in the presence of a microorganism or a processed product thereof in an aqueous medium and (B) a step of recovering the succinic acid, the method being characterized in that (A) the step of converting an organic raw material to succinic acid comprises: (a1) a step of adjusting the concentration of a succinic acid alkali metal salt in the aqueous medium to 80 mM or more; and then, (a2) a step of adding ammonia and/or an ammonium salt in the aqueous medium.

Abstract: The present invention provides a bacterium which has an ability to produce a useful metabolite derived from acetyl-coenzyme A, such as L-glutamic acid, L-glutamine, L-proline, L-arginine, L-leucine, L-cysteine, succinate, and polyhydroxybutyrate, wherein said bacterium is modified so that activities of D-xylulose-5-phosphate phosphoketolase and/or fructose-6-phosphate phosphoketolase are enhanced. The present invention also provides a method for producing the useful metabolite using the bacterium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to recombinant Trichoderma host cells producing Aspergillus fumigatus cellulolytic enzyme compositions and methods of producing and using the compositions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of producing a C4 dicarboxylic acid, comprising: (a) cultivating a filamentous fungal host cell comprising a polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of a heterologous first polynucleotide encoding a C4 dicarboxylic acid transporter, a heterologous second polynucleotide encoding a malate dehydrogenase, and a heterologous third polynucleotide encoding a pyruvate carboxylase; wherein the filamentous fungal host cell is capable of secreting increased levels of the C4 dicarboxylic acid compared to the filamentous fungal host cell without the heterologous polynucleotide when cultivated under the same conditions; and (b) recovering the C4 dicarboxylic acid. The present invention also relates to methods for increasing C4 dicarboxylic acid production, filamentous fungal host cells and malate dehydrogenase variants.

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 succinate. Also provided herein are methods for using such an organism to produce succinate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to alpha-amylase variants. The present invention also relates to polynucleotides encoding the variants; nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides; and methods of using the variants.

Abstract: The present invention is in the field of producing organic acids and other useful chemicals via biological fermentation using glycerol as a source of carbon. Novel microorganisms and fermentation processes are described that are capable of converting glycerol to useful organic acids in high yield and high purity.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a metabolic transistor in bacteria where a competitive pathway is introduced to compete with a product pathway for available carbon so as to control the carbon flux in the bacteria.

Abstract: The present invention also relates to polynucleotides encoding the variants; nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides; and methods of using the variants.

Abstract: Improved bacteria for making succinate and other 4 carbon dicarboxylates from the Krebs cycle have modifications to reduce acetate, lactate, EtOH and formate, as well as turn on the glyoxylate shunt, produce more NADH and overexpress In one embodiment, the bacteria are ?adhE?ldhA?iclR?ack-pta plus PYC+ and NAD+-dependant FDH+.

Abstract: The subject invention pertains to overexpression of a putative oxidoreductase (ucpA) for increasing furfural tolerance in genetically modified microorganisms. Genetically modified microorganisms capable of overexpressing UcpA are also provided. Increased expression of ucpA was shown to increase furfural tolerance by 50%, and to permit the fermentation of sugars to products in the presence of 15 mM furfural.

Abstract: The present invention relates to enzyme compositions comprising a polypeptide having cellobiohydrolase II activity, a polypeptide having xylanase activity, and one or more cellulolytic proteins and their use in the degradation or conversion of cellulosic material.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for the production of chemical compounds, particularly but not exclusively ethanol, by microbial fermentation. Also described are genetically modified micro-organisms capable of using carbon monoxide to produce one or more products, particularly but not exclusively ethanol as a main product, and producing a reduced amount or substantially no 2,3-butanediol and/or a precursor thereof.

Abstract: Described herein are improved methods of degrading or converting cellulosic material into fermentable sugars using dithionite. Also described are improved methods of fermentation in the presence of dithionite.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for the use of oil-containing materials as feedstocks for the production the bioproducts by biofermentation. In one preferred embodiment, surfactants are not used in compositions and the methods of the invention. In one preferred embodiment the oil-containing feedstocks are the by-products of other industrial processes including microbial, plant and animal oil processing.

Abstract: The technology relates in part to biological methods for producing adipic acid and engineered microorganisms capable of such production.

Abstract: Bioreactors are provided that include a vessel and a jet mixer disposed in the vessel. Methods that utilize the bioreactors are provided, involving placing a microorganism or cells and a fluid medium in the bioreactor.

Abstract: This document describes biochemical pathways for producing pimelic acid, 7-aminoheptanoic acid, 7-hydroxyheptanoic acid, heptamethylenediamine or 1,7-heptanediol by forming two terminal functional groups, comprised of carboxyl, amine or hydroxyl group, in a C7 aliphatic backbone substrate. These pathways, metabolic engineering and cultivation strategies described herein rely on the fatty acid synthesis pathway and oxidative cleavage of long chain acyl-[acp] intermediates by a monooxgenase (e.g., cytochrome P450) such as that encoded by BioI from microorganisms such as Bacillus subtillis.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to novel xylose isomerases and their uses, particularly in fermentation processes that employ xylose-containing media.

Abstract: A method of producing a sugar liquid with a cellulose-containing biomass as a raw material includes (1) hydrolyzing a cellulose-containing biomass to produce an aqueous sugar solution, and (2) filtering the aqueous sugar solution obtain in (1) through an ultrafiltration membrane having a molecular weight cutoff of 600 to 2,000 to remove a fermentation inhibitor(s) into the permeate side and collect a sugar liquid from the feed side.

Abstract: This invention provides a process of making a linear dicarboxylic acid of C10, C12, C14, C16 or C18 chain length, the process comprising providing a feed which is a renewable resource, contacting the feed with a catalyst in the presence of hydrogen and at a temperature of about 250° C. to about 425° C. and at a pressure of about 500 psig to about 2500 psig (3450 kPa to about 17,250 kPa) to produce a hydrocarbon product having at least a 5:1 ratio of even-numbered alkanes to odd-numbered alkanes and comprising a linear alkane of Cn chain length; and fermenting at least a portion of the linear alkane of Cn chain length to a linear dicarboxylic acid of Cn chain length, wherein n=10, 12, 14, 16 or 18. The catalyst comprises an oxide, molybdenum, and one or more active metals selected from the group consisting of nickel, cobalt, and mixtures thereof and the catalyst is in sulfided form.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cell which comprises a nucleotide sequence encoding a xylose isomerase, wherein the amino acid sequence of the xylose isomerase has at least 75% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO: 2 and wherein the nucleotide sequence is heterologous to the host. A cell of the invention may be used in a process for producing a fermentation product, such as ethanol. Such a process may comprise fermenting a medium containing a source of xylose with a cell of the invention such that the cell ferments xylose to the fermentation product.

Abstract: Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, microbial, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful products, such as food products and amino acids.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of producing a C4 dicarboxylic acid, comprising: (a) cultivating a filamentous fungal host cell comprising a polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of a heterologous first polynucleotide encoding a C4 dicarboxylic acid transporter, a heterologous second polynucleotide encoding a malate dehydrogenase, and a heterologous third polynucleotide encoding a pyruvate carboxylase; wherein the filamentous fungal host cell is capable of secreting increased levels of the C4 dicarboxylic acid compared to the filamentous fungal host cell without the heterologous polynucleotide when cultivated under the same conditions; and (b) recovering the C4 dicarboxylic acid. The present invention also relates to methods for increasing C4 dicarboxylic acid production, filamentous fungal host cells and malate dehydrogenase variants.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a recombinant yeast comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a heterologous enzyme that catalyses the conversion of malic acid to fumaric acid. The invention further relates to a process for the production of a dicarboxylic acid wherein the yeast according to the present invention is used.

Abstract: Yeast cell belonging to the genus Saccharomyces having introduced into its genome at least one xylA gene and at least one of each of araA, araB and araD genes and that is capable of consuming a mixed sugar mixture comprising glucose, xylose and arabinose, wherein the cell co-consumes glucose and arabinose, has genetic variations obtained during adaptive evolution and has a specific xylose consumption rate in the presence of glucose that is 0.25 g xylose/h, g DM or more.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for degrading or converting a cellulosic material and for producing substances from the cellulosic material.

Abstract: Bioreactors, and particularly, photobioreactors having a reactor chamber and surge driver, and methods for using these devices, for example, for the production of carbon-based products are provided. The reactor chamber provides a housing for microorganisms and culture medium. The surge driver produces a surge of the microorganisms and/or culture medium in the reactor chamber.

Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having bicarbonate transporter 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, and methods of producing C4-dicarboxylic acids, such as malic acid.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to microorganisms (e.g., non-naturally occurring microorganisms) that comprise one or more polynucleotides coding for enzymes in a pathway that catalyze a conversion of a carbon source (e.g., a fermentable carbon source) to butadiene and succinate and the use of such microorganisms for the production of butadiene and succinate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having bicarbonate transporter 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, and methods of producing C4-dicarboxylic acids, such as malic acid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to bacterial strains, capable of utilizing glycerol as a carbon source for the fermentative production of succinic acid, wherein said strains are genetically modified so that they comprise a deregulation of their endogenous pyruvate-formate-lyase enzyme activity, as well as to methods of producing organic acids, in particular succinic acid, by making use of such microorganism. The present invention also relates to the downstream processing of the produced organic acids by cation exchange chromatography.

Abstract: Methods for forming ammonium salts of C4 diacids in a fermentation process with removal of divalent metal carbonate salts are disclosed. The pH of fermentation broths for production of C4 diacids is controlled by adding alkaline oxygen containing calcium or magnesium compounds, which forms divalent metal salts of the diacids. The divalent metal salts of the diacids are substituted with ammonium by introduction of ammonium salts at elevated temperature and pressure forming soluble ammonium salts thereof. C02 or bicarbonate is simultaneously added to the fermentation media at the elevated temperature and pressure. Reducing the temperature and pressure forms insoluble divalent metal carbonate salts that are separated from the solubilized ammonium diacid salts. The recovered carbonate salts can be recycled as pH control materials in subsequent fermentations.

Abstract: Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials, to produce ethanol and/or butanol, e.g., by fermentation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having cellulolytic enhancing 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 present invention relates to a host cell deficient in an essential gene, comprising a vector, said vector comprising at least said essential gene and an autonomous replication sequence, wherein the host cell is a filamentous fungal cell. The invention also relates to a host cell deficient in an essential gene, comprising a vector, said vector comprising at least said essential gene and an autonomous replication sequence, wherein the host cell comprises a recombinant polynucleotide construct comprising a polynucleotide encoding a biological compound of interest or a compound involved in the synthesis of a biological compound of interest.

Abstract: Processes are disclosed for bioconversion processes in which a ME biocatalyst is surrounded by water-insoluble liquid during the bioconversion to facilitate one or more of mass transfer of substrate to and bioproduct from the biocatalyst and the separation and recovery of bioproduct from the water-insoluble liquid. The ME biocatalyst irreversibly retains microorganisms for the bioconversion and has, in its interior, an aqueous environment.

Abstract: Carboxylic acids and/or alcohols are produced by a fermentation process comprising: growing an immobilized microorganism capable of producing carboxylic acids and/or alcohols in an aqueous medium and in the presence of an organic medium, and recovering the carboxylic acids and/or alcohols from the organic medium; wherein a mesh is placed at an interface of the organic medium and the aqueous medium; and further wherein the organic medium comprises at least one organic solvent and at least one extractant chosen from tri-alkylphosphine oxides and tri-alkylamines.

Abstract: Genetically engineered microorganisms have been constructed to produce succinate and malate in mineral salt media in pH-controlled batch fermentations without the addition of plasmids or foreign genes. The subject invention also provides methods of producing succinate and malate comprising the culture of genetically modified microorganisms.

Abstract: Crude bio-based organic acid-producing feedstock is used to produce a bio-based organic acid. Related systems and methods are also described such as an integrated method including a step of producing a crude polyol product and then processing the crude polyol product to produce a bio-based organic acid.