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: In a process for hydrolyzing plant material in aqueous solution or suspension with an enzyme, the enzyme is delivered in solid form (e.g., as a spray-dried powder) in closed containers (such as paper bags or cardboard boxes), which are added directly in the process (i.e., addition of whole boxes/bags). The invention is particularly amenable to the production of first or second-generation bioethanol.

Abstract: The present invention relates enzyme composition comprising a cellulolytic preparation and an acetylxylan esterase (AXE); and the used of cellulolytic enzyme compositions for hydrolyzing acetylated cellulosic material. Finally the invention also relates to processes of producing fermentation products from acetylated cellulosic materials using a cellulolytic enzyme composition of the invention.

Abstract: A method of making a Bacillus alpha-amylase variant that increases alpha-amylase production and the alpha-amylases produced thereby. The recombinant alpha-amylases can be placed in compositions and used for purposes of laundry detergents, cleaning and dishwashing detergents, fabric desizing, starch liquefaction, cereal liquefaction, starch saccharification, biofilm removal, and starch hydrolysis in cane sugar processing.

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 isolated polypeptides having endoglucanase 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 isolated polypeptides having endoglucanase 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 isolated polypeptides having cellobiohydrolase 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: Disclosed is a method for preparation of a chitosan oligosaccharide composition capable of increasing a content of disaccharide in chitosan oligosaccharide with excellent effects of reducing HbAlc and blood glucose as well as excellent thermal stability. The method for preparation of a chitosan oligosaccharide composition includes: adding chitosan to distilled water to swell the chitosan; firstly treating the chitosan with a chitosanase to prevent the chitosan solution from becoming a state of being viscose, then, adding an organic acid to a mixed solution of the chitosan and chitosanase at a predetermined time interval bit by bit over several additions; allowing mutual reaction between the chitosan, chitosanase and organic acid; and inactivating the chitosanase to obtain the chitosan oligosaccharide composition. Further, a medicine and/or health supplement food which is effective in preventing and treating diabetes, including at least 40% of disaccharide without monosaccharide, is also disclosed.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods and compositions for increasing the production of one or more cellulases from a fungal host cell. The disclosure is based, on the surprising discovery that mis-expression of the transcriptional regulator clr-2 in a filamentous fungal cell was able to induce expression of cellulase genes under non-inducing or starvation conditions, resulting in increased secretion of cellulases from the cell. Advantageously, mis-expression of the transcription factor clr-2 in a filamentous fungal cell cultured in the absence of cellulose or cellobiose results in increased secretion of cellulases.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for detoxifying a lignocellulosic biomass hydrolysate, including: preparing a hydrolysate by pretreating a lignocellulosic biomass by hydrolysis; and decreasing or removing toxicity by adding a surfactant to the hydrolysate. The detoxifying method according to the present disclosure may effectively remove toxicity of compounds derived from lignin that inhibit the growth of and fermentation by microorganisms during the pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass. Further, production efficiency can be improved since loss of sugar can be avoided during the detoxification and additional cost can be minimized.

Abstract: Provided are a fructosylated mangiferin, a preparation method therefor and a use thereof, wherein the fructosylated mangiferin has a structural formula represented by the following formula (I), the method for preparing the fructosylated mangiferin includes adding a substance with fructosylating enzymatic activity to a transformed liquid containing mangiferin for biotransformation reaction, so as to convert the mangiferin into the fructosylated mangiferin, wherein the transformed liquid contains the mangiferin and a glycosyl donor; as well as a use of the fructosylated mangiferin in preparation of a medicament for treatment of tumor-related diseases.

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

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

Abstract: The invention provides polypeptides having a lignocellulolytic activity, e.g., a glycosyl hydrolase, a cellulase, an endoglucanase, a cellobiohydrolase, a beta-glucosidase, a xylanase, a mannanse, a xylosidase (e.g., a ?-xylosidase), an arabinofuranosidase, and/or a glucose oxidase activity, polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides, and methods of making and using these polynucleotides and polypeptides. In one aspect, the invention provides polypeptides that can enzymatically process (hydrolyze) sugarcane bagasse, i.e., for sugarcane bagasse degradation, or for biomass processing, and polynucleotides encoding these enzymes, and making and using these polynucleotides and polypeptides. In one embodiment, the invention provides thermostable and thermotolerant forms of polypeptides of the invention.

Abstract: A process is described for producing fermentable sugars derivable from biomass that contains polysaccharide, such as cellulose, made increasingly accessible as a substrate for enzymatic degradation or other methods of depolymerization. These fermentable sugars are subsequently able to be fermented to produce various target chemicals, such as alcohols, aldehydes, ketones or acids.

Abstract: Enzyme compositions including at least a) a cocktail of cellulases from Trichoderma reesei, and b) an enzymatic cocktail from Pycnoporus cinnabarinus including a cellobiose dehydrogenase (CDH) or c) a recombinant cellobiose dehydrogenase (CDH) from Pycnoporus cinnabarinus, preferably also including a Family 61 glycoside hydrolase. Also, methods for degrading a lignocellulosic biomass, for producing a fermentation product, for producing gluconic acid, xylonic acid and/or xylobionic acid, for enhancing the production of gluconic acid, xylonic acid and/or xylobionic acid or for increasing the yield of sugars from a lignocellulosic biomass.

Abstract: A method of diversification of human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) or precursors thereof, compounds obtainable by the method, and uses and compositions involving such compounds. The method comprises a) providing at least one compound or a mixture of the compounds selected from the group consisting of: optionally sialylated and/or fucosylated lactose derivatives of general formula 2 and salts thereof; b) adding at least one enzyme comprising a transglycosidase activity to the at least one compound or a mixture of compounds provided according to step a); and c) incubating the mixture obtained according to step b).

Abstract: The present invention relates to an isolated polynucleotide comprising an open reading frame encoding a polypeptide having alpha-amylase activity, the polypeptide selected from the group consisting of: a) a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence which has at least 70% identity with amino acids 22 to 450 of SEQ ID NO: 4; b) a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence which has at least 70% identity with the polypeptide encoded by the amylase encoding part of the polynucleotide inserted into a plasmid present in the E. coli host deposited under the Budapest Treaty with DSMZ under accession number DSM 15334; c) a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence which has at least 70% identity with the sequence shown from position 68 to 1417 in SEQ ID NO: 3; and d) a fragment of (a), (b) or (c) that has alpha-amylase activity.

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: 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 convert feedstock materials to a sugar solution, which can then be fermented to produce ethanol. Biomass feedstock is saccharified in a vessel by operation of a jet mixer, the vessel also containing a liquid medium and a saccharifying agent.

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 convert feedstock materials to a sugar solution, which can then be fermented to produce ethanol. Biomass feedstock is dispersed in a liquid medium and then saccharified.

Abstract: Nucleic acids encoding secretion signals, expression vectors containing the nucleic acids, and host cells containing the expression vectors are disclosed. Also disclosed are polypeptides that contain the secretion signals and methods of producing polypeptides, including methods of directing the extracellular secretion of the polypeptides. Exemplary embodiments include cellulase proteins fused to secretion signals, methods to produce and isolate these polypeptides, and methods to degrade lignocellulosic biomass.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for dissolving cellulose e.g. for the production of regenerated cellulose products such as films, fibers, particles and the like. In said method, the cellulose material is dissolved using an enzymatic treatment, followed by a base treatment. The invention is also directed to a method for producing cellulose particles wherein cellulose dissolved as described above is sprayed or mixed into a regenerating solution for precipitating cellulose particles. Moreover, the invention relates to the use of said cellulose particles produced with this method as a filler and/or coating pigment of paper and board. The invention is also directed to methods for producing and coating paper and board.

Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having beta-glucosidase activity, beta-xylosidase activity, or beta-glucosidase and beta-xylosidase 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 isolated polypeptides having cellobiohydrolase 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 isolated polypeptides having endoglucanase 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 isolated polypeptides having cellobiohydrolase 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 isolated polypeptides having cellobiohydrolase 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 isolated polypeptides having endoglucanase 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: To provide a transformant of a yeast of the genus Schizosaccharomyces which can produce a modified-type ?-glucosidase with improved glucosidase activity, a method for producing such a transformant, a method for producing the modified-type ?-glucosidase, and a cellulose degradation method using the modified-type ?-glucosidase.

Abstract: Economic conversion of lignocellulose requires both the maximization of conversion of available carbohydrates, as well as minimization of process capital cost. Process intensification minimizes capital cost while preserving conversion yield by combining into a single step those unit operations that are conducted at similar conditions. Flowsheet variations are proposed that minimize process capital while maintaining overall conversion yield.

Abstract: The invention provides processes for producing fermentable sugars from whole biomass that includes cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, and non-lignocellulosic sugars. Some variations fractionate the whole feedstock in the presence of sulfur dioxide, a solvent for lignin, and water, to produce a liquor containing hemicellulose, cellulose-rich solids, lignin, and the non-lignocellulosic sugars. After removing the cellulose-rich solids from the liquor, the hemicellulose is hydrolyzed to hemicellulosic monomers; the cellulose-rich solids are hydrolyzed to glucose; and the hemicellulosic monomers, the glucose, and the non-lignocellulosic sugars are all recovered (separately or in combination) as fermentable sugars. The whole biomass feedstock may be selected from sugarcane, energy cane, corn, wheat, rice, sugar beets, energy beets, etc. Typical non-lignocellulosic sugars are sucrose or starch, which may be converted to monomer sugars during initial fractionation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for fractionating lignocellulosic biomass, comprising: contacting biomass with SO2, water, and optionally a first solvent, to produce intermediate solids; then contacting the intermediate solids with SO2, water, and a second solvent, to produce cellulose-rich solids and a liquid phase comprising hemicelluloses and lignin. The first concentration of SO2 may be lower or higher than the second concentration of SO2. It is desirable to vary the SO2 and solvent concentrations in different stages to optimize the removal of hemicellulose versus lignin. The resulting cellulose-rich material can contain very low hemicellulose, very low lignin, or both low hemicellulose and low lignin. High-purity cellulose is useful both for producing glucose as well as for cellulose products or derivatives. The hemicelluloses may be hydrolyzed to produce monomeric sugars, and the lignin may be recovered as a co-product.

Abstract: The invention provides recombinant GH61 proteins obtained from Myceliophtora thermophila, and nucleic acids that encode such proteins. The invention also provides protein fractions isolated from M. thermophila supernatant that have GH61 protein activity. These preparations can be used to increase yield of products from reactions in which a cellulose-containing substrate undergoes saccharification by one or more cellulase enzymes, such as endoglucanase, ?-glucosidase, or cellobiohydrolase. Combinations of GH61 protein and cellulases can be used to break down cellulosic biomass into fermentable sugars in the production of ethanol.

Abstract: This disclosure provides for materials and methods for converting biomass to biofuels. The materials include a colloid mill with or without cellulase enzymes, and the methods include the use of a colloid mill and optionally cellulose enzymes to pretreat biomass for use in a biomass to biofuel production process.

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: Provided are methods and compositions directed to increasing the rate and/or yield of sugar extraction processes using feedstocks. Also provided are methods and compositions for decreasing the yield of one or more undesirable products during pretreatment.

Abstract: Endoglucanase characterized by a decreased degree of activity inhibition by a lignin-derived aromatic compound, and prepared by substituting tryptophan at position 273 in the amino acid sequence of wild-type thermophilic bacterium-derived endoglucanase with an amino acid other than aromatic amino acids.

Abstract: The present invention relates to genetically modified actinobacteria for the production of an enzyme having chitosanase activity. The genetically modified actinobacteria have a reduced (or abolished) activity of the CsnR polypeptide. Such reduced activity can be obtained by reducing the capacity of expressing the csnR gene, its corresponding transcript or expressing a dominant-negative CsnR polypeptide. Such genetically modified actinobacteria are less dependent (and, in some embodiment, totally independent) on the presence of chitosan in the culture medium for producing an enzyme having chitosanase activity. In addition, the genetically modified bacteria produce less proteases in the culture medium and ultimately provide a chitosanase end-product with higher purity.

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 isolated polypeptides having cellobiohydrolase 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 the isolation and to the characterization of two proteins having a novel enzymatic activity, i.e. a porphyranase activity. These proteins are useful for hydrolyzing polysaccharides containing sulfated agaro-colloids and for producing oligo-porphyrans, notably oligo-porphyrans with a defined structure and size.

Abstract: Aspects of the AVAP® and Green Power+® technologies may be integrated, as disclosed herein. The present invention, in some variations, couples a first step of steam or hot-water extraction of biomass, with fractionation of the resulting solids using sulfur dioxide (or other acid), an alcohol (or other solvent), and water. In other variations, a first step of fractionation with sulfur dioxide (or other acid), an alcohol (or other solvent), and water is followed by treatment with steam or hot water to reduce hemicellulose content of the final solids. Some embodiments provide cellulose materials with low lignin and low hemicellulose content. Such cellulose materials are useful for making glucose by hydrolysis, as a pulp product, or as purified cellulose for making cellulose derivatives.

Abstract: This invention relates to polypeptides, more specifically amylase polypeptides and nucleic acids encoding these, and their uses e.g. as non-maltogenic exoamylases in producing food or feed products.

Abstract: A method of producing corn starch by enzymatic process involving: soaking the corn; crushing the corn, separating and washing embryo; fine grinding; washing and drying fiber; separating and drying protein; washing, dewatering and drying the starch. An enzyme preparation is added before the step of washing, dewatering and drying the starch; the enzyme preparation is cellulose, or xylanase, or combination of the cellulose and the xylanase; and addition of the enzyme preparation is from 0.001% to 0.08% by weight of the corn. Based on the technology of traditional wet process, the method of the present invention comprises a step of adding enzyme preparation in the process of separating the corn, which improves the effect and the efficiency of mechanical separation, and further improves the purity and yield of the substance separated while also reducing the energy consumption.

Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having cellobiohydrolase 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: A genetically modified organism comprising: at least one nucleic acid sequence and/or at least one recombinant nucleic acid isolated from Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius and encoding a polypeptide involved in at least partially degrading, cleaving, transporting, metabolizing, or removing polysaccharides, cellulose, lignocellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, starch, sugars, sugar oligomers, carbohydrates, complex carbohydrates, chitin, heteroxylans, glycosides, xylan-, glucan-, galactan-, or mannan-decorating groups; and at least one nucleic acid sequence and/or at least one recombinant nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide involved in fermenting sugar molecules to a product. Additionally, enzymatic and/or proteinaceous extracts may be isolated from one or more genetically modified organisms. The extracts are utilized to convert biomass into a product.

Abstract: A method of producing a filter aid includes: (A) obtaining a pretreated biomass by pulverization treatment and/or thermochemical treatment of a cellulose-containing biomass; (B) treating the pretreated biomass obtained in (A) with cellulase to obtain a cellulase-treated product; and (C) obtaining a solid content of the cellulase-treated product of (B).