Abstract: The invention relates to improvements in the production of alcohols by microbial fermentation, particularly to production of alcohols by microbial fermentation of a substrate comprising CO. It more particularly relates to the provision of an inorganic organic sulfur source to a fermentation system such that one or more micro-organisms convert a substrate comprising CO to alcohols. In a particular embodiment, a microbial culture is provided with sodium polysulfide, wherein a substrate comprising CO is converted to products including ethanol and 2,3-butanediol.

Abstract: Provided herein are improved variants of polypeptides having cellobiohydrolase II activity, nucleic acids encoding the polypeptides, vectors, host cells containing the nucleic acids and methods for producing the polypeptides. The polypeptides encompassed by this disclosure may be used in numerous applications including the use of the polypeptides for the production of biofuels and for the synthesis of platform chemicals or biopolymers from renewable sources.

Abstract: The invention relates to improvements in the production of alcohols by microbial fermentation, particularly to production of alcohols by microbial fermentation of substrates comprising CO. It more particularly relates to the provision of an improved fermentation media, comprising nickel, to a fermentation system such that one or more micro-organisms convert a substrate comprising CO to one or more alcohols, such as ethanol. In particular embodiments, a microbial culture is provided with at least 10 ?M nickel, such that CO uptake by the microbial culture increases and ethanol productivity improves.

Abstract: The present invention provides recombinant nucleic acid constructs comprising a xylose isomerase polynucleotide, a recombinant fungal host cell comprising a recombinant xylose isomerase polynucleotide, and related methods.

Abstract: The invention relates to a compound according to Formula (IX) and salts thereof, wherein R1, R2 and R5 are each independently selected from H and hydrocarbon moieties, which hydrocarbon moieties optionally comprise one or more heteroatoms, and which hydrocarbons optionally comprise substituents, or when the compound according to formula (IX) is a salt, R1 and/or R2 may be a cation, R3, and R4 each independently selected from hydrocarbon moieties, which hydrocarbon moieties optionally comprise one or more heteroatoms, and which hydrocarbons optionally comprise substituents, and wherein any two of R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 are optionally linked together to form a ring structure. The invention further relates to the preparation of such a compound and to the use of such a compound for preparing a pharmaceutical compound, an agrochemical compound, an intermediate for a pharmaceutical compound or an intermediate for an agrochemical compound.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for producing alcohol from a cellulosic material, said process comprising the steps of: (i) hydrolyzing said cellulosic material with an aqueous acid to produce a hydrolysate; (ii) extracting acid and water from said hydrolysate with a water-miscible organic extraction solvent to yield (a) a first aqueous acidic solution containing said extraction solvent and (b) a residue containing sugars, (iii) subjecting said residue to an oligosaccharide cleavage reaction to yield an aqueous solution of fermentable sugars; (iv) fermenting said fermentable sugars and distilling alcohol from the resulting fermented mixture; (v) evaporating said extraction solvent from said first solution to yield (a) a second aqueous acid solution containing no more than 10% wt., preferably no more than 5% wt.

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, carboxylic acids and equivalents thereof (e.g., esters and salts). For example, systems are described that can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials and/or starchy materials, to produce ethanol, butanol or organic acids (e.g., acetic or lactic acid), salts of organic acids or mixtures thereof. If desired, organic acids can be converted into alcohols, such as by first converting the acid, salt or mixtures of the acid and its salt to an ester, and then hydrogenating the formed ester. Acetogens or homoacetogens which are capable of utilizing a syngas from a thermochemical conversion of coal or biomass can be utilized to produce the desired product.

Abstract: The present invention provides isolated nucleic acid molecules which encode a mutant acetaldehyde-CoA/alcohol dehydrogenase or mutant alcohol dehydrogenase and confer enhanced tolerance to ethanol. The invention also provides related expression vectors, genetically engineered microorganisms having enhanced tolerance to ethanol, as well as methods of making and using such genetically modified microorganisms for production of biofuels based on fermentation of biomass materials.

Abstract: The present invention provides a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in any one of SEQ ID NOS: 1 to 3 (except for proteins of the amino acid sequences as shown in SEQ ID NOS: 4 to 6), and a process for industrially advantageously producing a compound that inhibits HMG-CoA reductase and has an action to decrease serum cholesterol, using DNA encoding the protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in any one of SEQ ID NOS: 1 to 3 (except for DNA encoding the protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 4).

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of nucleic acid molecules coding for a bacterial xylose isomerase (XI), preferably coming from Clostridium phytofermentans, for reaction/metabolization, particularly fermentation, of recombinant microorganisms of biomaterial containing xylose, and particularly for the production of bioalcohols, particularly bioethanol, by means of xylose fermenting yeasts. The present invention further relates to cells, particularly eukaryotic cells, which are transformed utilizing a nucleic acid expression construct which codes for a xylose isomerase, wherein the expression of the nucleic acid expression construct imparts to the cells the capability to directly isomerize xylose into xylulose. Said cells are preferably utilized for reaction/metabolization, particularly fermentation, of biomaterial containing xylose, and particularly for the production of bioalcohols, particularly bioethanol.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for improving the efficiency of carbon capture in microbial fermentation of a gaseous substrate comprising CO and/or H2. In certain aspects the invention relates to improving the efficiency of carbon capture in the microbial fermentation of gaseous substrate comprising CO and/or H2 to produce alcohol(s) and/or acid(s). In particular the invention relates to methods for improving the efficiency of carbon capture in carboxydotrophic fermentation.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for redirecting metabolic solventogenesis pathways to enhance the product yield from fermentation of biomass. Clostridium microorganism pathways are modified to extend the growth phase and prevent inhibition of acetaldehyde while bypassing the synthesis of acetyl CoA.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing a carotenoid, which comprises culturing a carotenoid-producing bacterium in an amino acid-supplemented medium, and collecting the carotenoid from the resulting cultured product, wherein the amino acid is at least one selected, from the group consisting of glutamic acid, aspartic acid, glutamine, asparagine, alanine, glycine, serine, threonine, arginine, tyrosine, proline, phenylalanine and leucine, and salts thereof

Abstract: The present disclosure identifies pathways and mechanisms to confer production of carbon-based products of interest such as ethanol, ethylene, chemicals, polymers, n-alkanes, isoprenoids, pharmaceutical products or intermediates thereof in photoautotrophic organisms such that these organisms efficiently convert carbon dioxide and light into carbon-based products of interest, and in particular the use of such organisms for the commercial production of ethanol, ethylene, chemicals, polymers, n-alkanes, isoprenoids, pharmaceutical products or intermediates thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to the microbial fermentation of gaseous substrates, particularly to methods of mitigating and/or reducing alcohol toxicity effects on a microbial culture at elevated alcohol concentrations during fermentation. The invention relates particularly to microbial fermentation of substrates comprising CO and the effects of alcohol toxicity are reduced or mitigated by maintaining the temperature below the optimum operating temperature by cooling the fermentation broth.

Abstract: The process of the present invention is based on the microbial production of enzymes from the growth of the fungus Penicillium funiculosum in a suitable culture medium with a cellulosic substrate. The process of the invention comprises in particular the fermentative treatment of a lignocellulosic substrate by means of a specially adapted fungus, for obtaining an enzymatic preparation capable of hydrolysing cellulose and hemicellulose for the production of ethanol.

Abstract: Glycerol or other reduced carbon sources may be used as a feedstock for the microbial production of chemical products under certain microaerobic conditions. For example, such production may occur under microaerobic or microrespiratory conditions in which electron acceptors are consumed in the reaction as quickly as they are added. In such reactions, the reaction product is at least as reduced as carbon source. Further, during such a reaction, at least some of the carbon source is used to generate cell mass. In addition, microorganisms with modified genomes are provided for carrying out the methods herein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel phenylethanol dehydrogenase mutants, to a method for the manufacture thereof; to coded nucleic acid sequences therefor, to expression cassettes, to vectors and recombinant microorganisms that contain said sequences; to a method for the biocatalytic synthesis of substituted, optically active alcohols and to the use of said mutants; and particularly to a method for manufacturing duloxetine alcohol or duloxetine, comprising a synthesis step catalyzed biocatalytic by said mutants.

Abstract: In one embodiment the instant invention generally pertains to a method for producing glucose for fermentation. The method comprises first treating a biomass with acid and heat under conditions sufficient to produce a composition mixture comprising cellulose suitable for enzymatic hydrolysis. Next, at least a portion of the cellulose of step (a) is enzymatically hydrolyzed under conditions sufficient to form a composition comprising glucose. The glucose is then fermented. Advantageously, one or more reaction conditions are more efficient because they are selected by first measuring an initial hydrolysis rate of said biomass and then selecting one or more appropriate reaction conditions based upon said initial hydrolysis rate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an alpha-amylase blend, including a B. stearothermophilus alpha-amylase (AmyS) wherein the amino acid at position S242 is substituted and a B. licheniformis alpha-amylase blends for starch liquefaction and saccharification, ethanol production, and a sweetener production.

Abstract: Fibrous materials, compositions that include fibrous materials, and uses of the fibrous materials and compositions are disclosed. For example, the fibrous materials can be operated on by a microorganism to produce ethanol or a by-product, such as a protein or lignin.

Abstract: A method for the production of fermentable sugars and high viscosity cellulose from lignocellulosic material in a batch or continuous process is provided. Lignocellulosic material is fractionated in a fashion that cellulose is removed as pulp, cooking chemicals can be reused, lignin is separated for the production of process energy, and hemicelluloses are converted into fermentable sugars, while fermentation inhibitors are removed. High yield production of alcohols or organic acids can be obtained from this method using the final reaction step.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method of producing glucose from a granular starch substrate comprising, contacting a slurry comprising granular starch obtained from plant material with an alpha-amylase at a temperature below the starch gelatinization temperature of the granular starch to produce oligosaccharides and hydrolyzing the oligosaccharides to produce a mash comprising at least 20% glucose and further comprising fermenting the mash to obtain ethanol.

Abstract: The present invention is an antibacterial hop product used to inhibit the growth of gram positive bacteria in yeast propagators and ethanol producing fermenters. The hop product is an isomerized or stabilized hop made of alkaline earth metals or alkali earth metals. The antibacterial hop product also enhances the alcohol tolerance of yeast cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to enzymic processes for preparing S-butan-2-ol; and to enzymes for carrying out said processes; to nucleic acid sequences coding for said enzymes, to expression cassettes, vectors and recombinant hosts containing said nucleic acid sequences.

Abstract: The invention relates to the production of products such as alcohols and acids by microbial fermentation, particularly microbial fermentation of substrates comprising CO. It more particularly relates to methods and systems for improving efficiency of production products by microbial fermentation. In particular embodiments, the invention provides a method of controlling substrate supply, such that production of desired metabolites is optimised.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel mutants of ?PLE, to vehicles containing the same and to their use in the production of enantiomer-enriched alcohols, carboxylic acids and esters.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a cell capable of efficiently producing scyllo-inositol from myo-inositol and a simple method of manufacturing scyllo-inositol using the cell. The above-mentioned object is achieved by a Bacillus subtilis cell, in which a function of a protein having a scyllo-inositol dehydrogenase activity is lost, and the manufacture of scyllo-inositol using the cell, based on a novel finding that the protein having a scyllo-inositol dehydrogenase activity and a protein having a 2-keto-myo-inositol ketoreductase function are present in Bacillus subtilis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing a fermentation product from a sugar hydrolysate. The method comprises fermenting the sugar hydrolysate in a fermentation system with yeast to produce a fermentation broth comprising a fermentation product; introducing acid and an oxidant, such as chlorine dioxide, to the fermentation system so as to expose microbial contaminants in the fermentation system at one or more stages to chlorine dioxide and a pH of less than 3.0; and recovering the fermentation product. In one example of the invention, a yeast slurry obtained from a yeast recycle step is treated with acid and the oxidant.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods for producing fermentable sugar obtained from a plant tissue. The methods include providing transgenic plant material comprising one or more locked carbohydrates and contacting plant material with an enzyme capable of converting the locked carbohydrate into a fermentable sugar. The methods are useful for providing sugar or sugar pre-cursors for several industrial purposes including ethanol production. The invention also encompasses plants and plant parts that produce a lock enzyme to yield a locked carbohydrate, with the consequence of accumulating the locked carbohydrate in the plant. The invention also encompasses providing a key enzyme able to convert locked carbohydrates to fermentable sugars. Key enzymes can be provided by transgenic plants or plant parts, transgenic microbes, transgenic yeast, microbes or yeast.

Abstract: Genes and strains of recombinant microorganisms are provided that are engineered to produce fatty alcohols and fatty alcohol derivatives. The organisms can include one, two, three or more transgenes that direct the biosynthesis of one or more fatty alcohols or derivatives. Methods of producing fatty alcohols using transgenic microorganisms are also provided.

Abstract: A system or plant and method for the production of pure alcohol, acetic acid or its derivatives from the extract containing hemicelluloses filtered after extraction of woody biomass or directly extracted from woody biomass. The process can be integrated with the host plant process to minimize the effect of loss of heat value from the extracted hemicelluloses and reduce the loading to the effluent plant.

Abstract: The invention provides for a method for producing a 5-carbon alcohol in a genetically modified host cell. In one embodiment, the method comprises culturing a genetically modified host cell which expresses a first enzyme capable of catalyzing the dephosphorylation of an isopentenyl pyrophosphate (IPP) or dimethylallyl diphosphate (DMAPP), such as a Bacillus subtilis phosphatase (YhfR), under a suitable condition so that 5-carbon alcohol is 3-methyl-2-buten-1-ol and/or 3-methyl-3-buten-1-ol is produced. Optionally, the host cell may further comprise a second enzyme capable of reducing a 3-methyl-2-buten-1-ol to 3-methyl-butan-1-ol, such as a reductase.

Abstract: The present invention provides for combinations of enzymes and other proteins that result in improved saccharification of plant material. The invention provides for saccharification in the presence of and optional fermentation by, yeast cells expressing the enzymes and other proteins.

Abstract: The present invention provides a protein having an activity of oxidizing a dammarane-type triterpene, a gene encoding the same, and use of the protein and the gene. The present invention specifically relates to a protein obtainable from a plant belonging to the genus Glychyrrhiza, which has an activity of oxidizing a dammarane-type triterpene, a gene encoding the same, and use of the protein and the gene. The protein is shown in SEQ ID NO:1, 2, or 13, and the gene encoding the same is shown in SEQ ID NO:3, 4, or 14, respectively. Furthermore, a transformant into which the gene is introduced can be produced, by which a triterpene oxidase can be obtained.

Abstract: A process for producing alcohol from syngas integrates the alcohol recovery with the removal of CO2 from syngas. A syngas feed containing CO, H2, and CO2 contacts an aqueous alcohol stream to remove CO2 from the syngas that then passes to bioreactor containing microorganisms for conversion to alcohol and other liquid products. Flashing of the scrubbing liquid releases the CO2 and simultaneously concentrates alcohol in the overhead flash vapor. Condensation of the flash vapor provides an enriched alcohol stream for enhanced recovery of the ethanol product in a product separation zone. The remainder of the scrubbing liquid along with make-up alcohol and water from the process gets returned for continued contact with the syngas feed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for increasing the efficiency of anaerobic fermentation processes (1) that produce acetate as a by-product in addition to a desired product, and (2) that can utilize hydrogen and/or carbon dioxide in the fermentation. The method comprises the steps of converting acetate produced by the fermentation process into hydrogen gas and carbon dioxide gas, and utilizing hydrogen gas and/or carbon dioxide gas obtained from the acetate conversion in the anaerobic fermentation process. In particular aspects, the invention relates to processes of producing alcohols, particularly ethanol.

Abstract: Renewable materials made from inhibiting compounds. A method includes the step of consuming a fermentation inhibiting compound with a biological organism, and the step of producing a renewable material with the biological organism from at least a portion of the fermentation inhibiting compound. The methods may include a net balance of cofactor production and consumption.

Abstract: A method of producing a low molecular weight organic compound (e.g. a plant or bacteria secondary metabolite) in increased yields involving use of a microorganism cell, which comprises a gene involved in the biosynthesis pathway leading to a low molecular weight organic aglycon compound and a glycosyltransferase gene capable of glycosylating the produced aglycon.

Abstract: In this invention, a process for producing fermentable sugars derivable from biomass that contains polysaccharide, such as cellulose, which has been made increasingly accessible as a substrate for enzymatic degradation or other methods of depolymerization. The process of the present invention increases accessibility of polysaccharides, typically present in biomass and produces polysaccharides with increased accessibility. The polysaccharides with increased accessibility may be subsequently saccharified to yield fermentable sugars. These fermentable sugars are subsequently able to be fermented to produce various target chemicals, such as alcohols, aldehydes, ketones or acids.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing organic acids, acid derivatives thereof and/or organic alcohols. In particular, the invention relates to a process for culturing a butyric acid-producing micro-organism in a culture vessel; transferring a portion of the butyric acid which is produced in the culture vessel to a separate compartment; and then reintroducing a portion of the acids from the second compartment in a controlled manner into the culture vessel. The invention also relates to a process for making butanol. The invention further relates to a process for culturing a butyrate-producing micro-organism in a first compartment of an electrochemical reactor, passing a direct current electric field across the electrochemical reactor and harvesting butyric acid or acid derivatives thereof in a second compartment of the reactor. The invention further relates to a process for producing butanol from the butyric acid.

Abstract: The invention relates to a DNA sequence encoding an NADP-dependent alcohol dehydrogenase, to a vector containing at least one copy of the DNA sequence and to prokaryotic or eukaryotic host cells that are transformed or transfected with the DNA sequence. The invention also relates to the NADP-dependent alcohol dehydrogenase, to a method for the production and the use of the alcohol dehydrogenase and to a method for the stereoselective production of secondary alcohols.

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 and/or starchy or sugary materials, to produce ethanol and/or butanol, e.g., by fermentation.

Abstract: Chimeric alpha amylases having the characteristics of high thermostability and good performance in starch degradation, especially high-temperature liquefaction processes, are provided. The alpha-amylases are chimeras of AmyL and AmyS enzymes, and are useful in starch degradation processes. Methods of making the chimeric enzymes, and methods of using the chimeric alpha-amylases for liquefaction, cleaning starch residue from a surface, and treating woven material to remove coatings. Kits for practicing the methods are provided. Polynucleotides encoding the chimeric amylases, vectors, and expression hosts also are provided.

Abstract: Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is 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, to produce ethanol and/or butanol, e.g., by fermentation.

Abstract: The invention relates to processes for hydrolyzing lignocellulose-containing material. The invention also relates to processes of producing fermentation products including a hydrolysis process of the invention.

Abstract: A biotechnological process for conversion of a raw material (100, 200) to a desired product (130, 230) by means of one or more biological or biochemical agents (102, 104, 202) such as microorganisms and/or enzymes characterised in that the amount of one or more of said biological or biochemical agents (102, 104, 202) is controllable by a process control algorithm (124,224) dependent on one or more values of interest related to a process stream. A specific aspect of the invention is the use of a process control algorithm for controlling enzyme addition in biofuel production by fermentation of biomass to alcohols.

Abstract: A method of processing residual molasses from a procedure for the production of lactose from whey permeate. From this molasses, a mineral diminished component is extracted, concentrated, crystallized and therefrom a crystallized phase is separated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polypeptide having an activity to asymmetrically reduce (3S)-1-chloro-3-tert-butoxycarbonylamino-4-phenyl-2-butanone to produce (2R,3S)-1-chloro-3-tert-butoxycarbonylamino-4-phenyl-2-butanol isolated from a microorganism belonging to the genus Ogataea, a DNA encoding the polypeptide and a transformant that produces the polypeptide. The present invention moreover relates to a method of producing (2R,3S)-1-chloro-3-tert-butoxycarbonylamino-4-phenyl-2-butanol utilizing the polypeptide or the transformant. Using the polypeptide or transformant of the present invention, optically active alcohols such as (2R,3S)-1-chloro-3-tert-butoxycarbonylamino-4-phenyl-2-butanol and the like can be produced efficiently.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process of fermenting a hydrolysed pre-treated lignocellulose-containing material to produce a fermentation product.