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- Anasontzis, George E, 1980
(author)
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Biomass modifying enzymes: From discovery to application
- 2012
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In: Oral presentation at the Chalmers Life Science AoA conference.
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Conference paper (other academic/artistic)abstract
- It has now been realized that the road towards the bio-based economy is a one-way street, leaving gradually the oil-based technology and driving slowly towards a more sustainable society. The current non-biodegradable hydrocarbon fuels and plastics will be replaced by new products which will derive from natural and renewable resources. The synthesis of such biofuels and biochemicals is still challenged by the difficulties to cost efficiently degrade lignocellulosic material to fermentable sugars or to isolate the intact polymers. Biomass degrading and modifying enzymes play an integral role both in the separation of the polymers from the wood network, as well as in their subsequent modification, prior to further product development.Our group interests focus on all levels of applied enzyme research of biomass acting enzymes: Discovery, assay development, production and application. Relevant examples will be provided: What is our strategy for discovering novel microorganisms and enzymes from the tropical forests and grasslands of Vietnam? How do we design novel real-world assays for enzyme activity determination? Which are the bottlenecks in the enzymatic cellulose hydrolysis? How enzymes can be used to produce high added value compounds from biomass?
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| 4. |
- Olofsson, Martin, 1975-, et al.
(author)
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Combined Effects of Nitrogen Concentration and Seasonal Changes on the Production of Lipids in Nannochloropsis oculata
- 2014
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In: Marine Drugs. - Basel, Switzerland : MDPI AG. - 1660-3397. ; 12:4, s. 1891-1910
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Instead of sole nutrient starvation to boost algal lipid production, we addressed nutrient limitation at two different seasons (autumn and spring) during outdoor cultivation in flat panel photobioreactors. Lipid accumulation, biomass and lipid productivity and changes in fatty acid composition of Nannochloropsis oculata were investigated under nitrogen (N) limitation (nitrate:phosphate N:P 5, N:P 2.5 molar ratio). N. oculata was able to maintain a high biomass productivity under N-limitation compared to N-sufficiency (N:P 20) at both seasons, which in spring resulted in nearly double lipid productivity under N-limited conditions (0.21 g L−1 day−1) compared to N-sufficiency (0.11 g L−1 day−1). Saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids increased from 76% to nearly 90% of total fatty acids in N-limited cultures. Higher biomass and lipid productivity in spring could, partly, be explained by higher irradiance, partly by greater harvesting rate (~30%). Our results indicate the potential for the production of algal high value products (i.e., polyunsaturated fatty acids) during both N-sufficiency and N-limitation. To meet the sustainability challenges of algal biomass production, we propose a dual-system process: Closed photobioreactors producing biomass for high value products and inoculum for larger raceway ponds recycling waste/exhaust streams to produce bulk chemicals for fuel, feed and industrial material.
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| 5. |
- Adeboye, Peter, 1982, et al.
(author)
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DETOXIFICATION AS A STRATEGY FOR DEVELOPING TOLERANCE IN Saccharomyces cerevisiae TO PHENOLIC COMPOUNDS
- 2014
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In: ISSY31: 31ST INTERNATIONAL SPECIALISED SYMPOSIUM ON YEAST.
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Conference paper (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Several phenolic compounds are formed as products of lignin breakdown during pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass. These phenolic compounds are inhibitory to cell growth and function as biocatalysts in the production of second generation biofuels from degraded lignocellulosic biomass. Our research is focused on developing a Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain with improved resistance to phenolic compounds.As part of our study, we have focused on understanding the ability of S. cerevisiae to tolerate and convert phenolic compounds. We aim to understand the conversion mechanisms of phenolic compounds and adapt the knowledge to the engineering and use of S. cerevisiae on a biotechnological platform for bioethanol production and prospective, novel bio-based chemicals.We have investigated toxicity of various phenolic compounds against S. cerevisiae. Our results showed that phenolic compounds have varied toxicity against S. cerevisiae and the toxicity may be dependent on the structure of the compound involved. Under aerobic batch cultivation conditions, we have also studied the conversion of phenolic compounds by S. cerevisiae using coniferyl aldehyde, ferulic acid and p-coumaric acid as representative phenolic compounds. We compiled a list of conversion products of the three starting compounds under investigation and we proposed a possible conversion pathway, currently being investigated.In this talk, we present the proposed conversion pathway through which S. cerevisiae converts and detoxifies coniferyl aldehyde, ferulic acid and p-coumaric acid under aerobic cultivation condition.
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| 6. |
- Marx, Christian, 1975, et al.
(author)
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ENGINEERING GLUTATHIONE BIOSYNTHESIS TO ENHANCE REDOX ROBUSTNESS OF Saccharomyces cerevisiae
- 2014
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In: ISSY31: 31ST INTERNATIONAL SPECIALISED SYMPOSIUM ON YEAST.
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Conference paper (other academic/artistic)abstract
- The focus for biofuel production shifts to using lignocellulose biomass from forest and agricultural by-products since it does not compete with food and feed production. Polysaccharides must be pretreated to be made accessible to hydrolytic enzymes to generate monomeric sugars for the following fermentation. In this pretreatment step inhibitors of fermenting microorganisms are generated, mainly furan derivates, weak acids and phenolics. Although Saccharomyces cerevisiae is more robust than bacteria, there is demand for improvement and the development of novel yeast strains with increased inhibitor tolerance is highly desirable.Furan derivates and other inhibitors have been shown to induce the formation of reactive oxygen species. Engineering of the redox metabolism of S. cerevisiae in terms of increasing the intracellular levels of glutathione by overexpressing glutathione synthetase GSH1 resulted in increased strain robustness in a simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) process. Cell survival and final ethanol concentrations were increased in the recombinant strains compared to the wild type in industrial media [Ask et al. 2013].To show a correlation between the intracellular concentration of glutathione and the resulting effect on robustness, strains accumulating different amounts of glutathione will be created. GshF is a bi-functional enzyme found in several bacterial species, that catalyzes the formation of glutathione from its precursors without accumulation of the intermediate product γ- glutamylcysteine and without any relevant feedback inhibition. GshF will be overexpressed in a CEN.PK strain, followed by deletion of the native GSH1 and GSH2 enzymes catalyzing the two-step reaction in S. cerevisiae.
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| 7. |
- Adeboye, Peter, 1982, et al.
(author)
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Conversion of lignin-derived phenolic compounds by Saccharomyces cerevisiae
- 2014
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In: 36th Symposium on Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals, April 2-May 1st, Clearwater Beach, Florids, USA.
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Conference paper (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Lignin breakdown during biomass pretreatment releases a wide array of phenolic compounds in lignocellulose hydrolysates. Phenolic compounds, together with organic acids and furaldehydes are known to be inhibitors of microbial fermentation, thus limiting the efficient bioconversion of lignocellulose biomass. The goal of our study is to improve S. cerevisiae tolerance to phenolic compounds from lignocellulose hydrolysates and investigate its conversion capacities. In particular, we aimed i) to establish a correlation between the phenolic compounds structure and the effect on yeast growth, and ii) to investigate the conversion/detoxification products of selected representative compounds in order to provide strain engineering strategies for enhanced phenolics conversion.First, the effect on S. cerevisiae growth of 13 different phenolic compounds commonly found in lignocellulose hydrolysates was characterized. The compounds could be grouped in three clusters, according to their effect on lag phase duration, specific growth rate and cell density. Next, coniferyl aldehyde, p-coumaric acid and ferulic acid were chosen as representative compounds and their conversion product by S. cerevisiae in aerobic culture in bioreactor were identified and followed throughout the fermentation time. Understanding the effect of different phenolics on yeast and their conversion/ detoxification pathways is the first step not only in strain engineering for enhanced robustness, but also for designing new biorefinery concepts, where the bioconversion of lignin-derived aromatics could potentially be the source of new bio-based chemicals.
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| 8. |
- Bettiga, Maurizio, 1978, et al.
(author)
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Yeast physiology studies and metabolic engineering for enhanced robustness
- 2014
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In: Enzitec 2014- XI Seminário Brasileiro de Tecnologia Enzimática. Barra da Tijuca-Rio de Janeiro, April 14th to 16th, 2014.
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Conference paper (other academic/artistic)abstract
- The extensive research on second-generation ethanol has paved the way to a new concept of bio-based industry, where lignocellulosic material is the primary source of sugars, to be converted to a number of fuels and chemicals. Sugars are released from cellulose and hemicellulose by pretreatment and hydrolysis steps. Harsh conditions during pretreatment promote the formation of a number of inhibitory compounds, among which weak organic acids, furaldehydes and phenolic compounds. In addition, the product of interest can act as a potent inhibitor. Regardless of the product, robust microorganisms are a prerequisite for the feasibility of lignocellulose-based bioprocesses.Current research carried out by our group focuses on the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and aims at investigating the molecular bases of microbial robustness. Our efforts include the identification of the molecular targets of different classes of fermentation inhibitors aiming at understanding the complex responses of the cells to these compounds. The final goal is to engineer more robust strains. The concept of robustness will be discussed and examples of key features for S. cerevisiae robustness as well as examples of successful engineering to increase robustness will be presented.In particular, during this presentation, the following results will be discussed i) the study of redox and energy metabolism as key determinants of tolerance; ii) conversion routes of in S. cerevisiae as a way of detoxification from phenolic compounds; iii) cell membrane engineering as a strategy to achieve enhanced tolerance to weak acids.
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- Wang, Ruifei, 1985, et al.
(author)
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Process optimization of multi-feed SSCF
- 2014
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In: 10th European Symposium on Biochemical Engineering Sciences and 6th International Forum on Industrial Bioprocesses.
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Conference paper (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Economical production of bio-ethanol from lignocellulosic materials requires an efficient and robust process which enables high-solid fermentation of pretreated lignocellulose to achieve high ethanol fermentation performance. In this work, we design and optimize a high-solid fed-batch simultaneous saccharification and co-fermentation (SSCF) process with a feed of substrate, enzyme and yeast cell for efficient production of ethanol from pretreated wheat straw in both lab and pilot scale. The yeast is prepared by pre-cultivation and adaptation in a semi-continuous cultivation in liquid hydrolysate medium in order to achieve high fermentation capacity. The feeding profiles in both pre-cultivation and SSCF steps are optimized based on a previously developed multi-feed SSCF model [1] in order to maintain high activities of both hydrolytic enzyme and yeast cell resulting in highest biomass yield during pre-cultivation and highest ethanol production efficiency during SSCF process. We also demonstrate scale up of fed-batch SSCF process in a 10 m3 pilot-scale bioreactor. The fed-batch SSCF with an optimized feed of substrate, cell and enzymes reaches high ethanol fermentation performance suggesting it to be a promising process for efficient bioconversion of lignocellulosic materials to ethanol.[1] Wang et al. Bioresour. Technol., 2014
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| 10. |
- Ask, Magnus, 1983, et al.
(author)
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The influence of HMF and furfural on redox-balance and energy-state of xylose-utilizing Saccharomyces cerevisiae
- 2013
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In: Biotechnology for Biofuels. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1754-6834 .- 1754-6834. ; 6:22
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BackgroundPretreatment of biomass for lignocellulosic ethanol production generates compounds that can inhibit microbial metabolism. The furan aldehydes hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and furfural have received increasing attention recently. In the present study, the effects of HMF and furfural on redox metabolism, energy metabolism and gene expression were investigated in anaerobic chemostats where the inhibitors were added to the feed-medium.ResultsBy cultivating the xylose-utilizing Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain VTT C-10883 in the presence of HMF and furfural, it was found that the intracellular concentrations of the redox co-factors and the catabolic and anabolic reduction charges were significantly lower in the presence of furan aldehydes than in cultivations without inhibitors. The catabolic reduction charge decreased from 0.13(+/-0.005) to 0.08(+/-0.002) and the anabolic reduction charge decreased from 0.46(+/-0.11) to 0.27(+/-0.02) when HMF and furfural were present. The intracellular ATP concentration was lower when inhibitors were added, but resulted only in a modest decrease in the energy charge from 0.87(+/-0.002) to 0.85(+/-0.004) compared to the control. Transcriptome profiling followed by MIPS functional enrichment analysis of up-regulated genes revealed that the functional group "Cell rescue, defense and virulence" was over-represented when inhibitors were present compared to control cultivations. Among these, the ATP-binding efflux pumps PDR5 and YOR1 were identified as important for inhibitor efflux and possibly a reason for the lower intracellular ATP concentration in stressed cells. It was also found that genes involved in pseudohyphal growth were among the most up-regulated when inhibitors were present in the feed-medium suggesting nitrogen starvation. Genes involved in amino acid metabolism, glyoxylate cycle, electron transport and amino acid transport were enriched in the down-regulated gene set in response to HMF and furfural. It was hypothesized that the HMF and furfural-induced NADPH drainage could influence ammonia assimilation and thereby give rise to the nitrogen starvation response in the form of pseudohyphal growth and down-regulation of amino acid synthesis.ConclusionsThe redox metabolism was severely affected by HMF and furfural while the effects on energy metabolism were less evident, suggesting that engineering of the redox system represents a possible strategy to develop more robust strains for bioethanol production.
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