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Title: Termite enzymes and uses thereof for in vitro conversion of lignin-containing materials to fermentable products

Abstract

The disclosure provides isolated nucleic acid molecules derived from the gut of the termite R flavipes, recombinant nucleic acid molecules comprising a vector and an isolated heterologous nucleic acid molecule operably inserted therein, whereby, when transformed into an appropriate host cell system, the heterologous nucleic acid sequence is expressed as a polypeptide having an activity similar to that when expressed in the gut of the termite R. flavipes. The recombinant nucleic acid molecules can comprise more than one heterologous nucleic acid molecule such that more than one polypeptide may be expressed by the host system. The expressed polypeptides may be substantially purified, or used in a substantially unpurified form, to be admixed with a lignocellulose source to be converted to a fermentable product such as a sugar or a mixture of sugars. One aspect of the present disclosure, therefore, encompasses methods of converting a lignified plant material to a fermentable product, the method comprising obtaining a series of isolated polypeptides of a termite, wherein the series of polypeptides cooperate to convert a plant lignocellulose to a fermentable product; and incubating the series of polypeptides with a source of lignified plant material, under conditions allowing the polypeptides to cooperatively produce amore » fermentable product from the lignified plant material.

Inventors:
; ; ; ; ; ; ;
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc. (Gainesville, FL)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1083983
Patent Number(s):
8445240
Application Number:
13/263,107
Assignee:
University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc. (Gainesville, FL)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
C - CHEMISTRY C12 - BIOCHEMISTRY C12N - MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES
C - CHEMISTRY C12 - BIOCHEMISTRY C12P - FERMENTATION OR ENZYME-USING PROCESSES TO SYNTHESISE A DESIRED CHEMICAL COMPOUND OR COMPOSITION OR TO SEPARATE OPTICAL ISOMERS FROM A RACEMIC MIXTURE {
DOE Contract Number:  
FG36-02G012026; FG02-08ER85063
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE

Citation Formats

Scharf, Michael E, Boucias, Drion G, Tartar, Aurelien, Coy, Monique R, Zhou, Xuguo, Salem, Tamer Ibrahim Zaki, Jadhao, Sanjay B, and Wheeler, Marsha M. Termite enzymes and uses thereof for in vitro conversion of lignin-containing materials to fermentable products. United States: N. p., 2013. Web.
Scharf, Michael E, Boucias, Drion G, Tartar, Aurelien, Coy, Monique R, Zhou, Xuguo, Salem, Tamer Ibrahim Zaki, Jadhao, Sanjay B, & Wheeler, Marsha M. Termite enzymes and uses thereof for in vitro conversion of lignin-containing materials to fermentable products. United States.
Scharf, Michael E, Boucias, Drion G, Tartar, Aurelien, Coy, Monique R, Zhou, Xuguo, Salem, Tamer Ibrahim Zaki, Jadhao, Sanjay B, and Wheeler, Marsha M. Tue . "Termite enzymes and uses thereof for in vitro conversion of lignin-containing materials to fermentable products". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1083983.
@article{osti_1083983,
title = {Termite enzymes and uses thereof for in vitro conversion of lignin-containing materials to fermentable products},
author = {Scharf, Michael E and Boucias, Drion G and Tartar, Aurelien and Coy, Monique R and Zhou, Xuguo and Salem, Tamer Ibrahim Zaki and Jadhao, Sanjay B and Wheeler, Marsha M},
abstractNote = {The disclosure provides isolated nucleic acid molecules derived from the gut of the termite R flavipes, recombinant nucleic acid molecules comprising a vector and an isolated heterologous nucleic acid molecule operably inserted therein, whereby, when transformed into an appropriate host cell system, the heterologous nucleic acid sequence is expressed as a polypeptide having an activity similar to that when expressed in the gut of the termite R. flavipes. The recombinant nucleic acid molecules can comprise more than one heterologous nucleic acid molecule such that more than one polypeptide may be expressed by the host system. The expressed polypeptides may be substantially purified, or used in a substantially unpurified form, to be admixed with a lignocellulose source to be converted to a fermentable product such as a sugar or a mixture of sugars. One aspect of the present disclosure, therefore, encompasses methods of converting a lignified plant material to a fermentable product, the method comprising obtaining a series of isolated polypeptides of a termite, wherein the series of polypeptides cooperate to convert a plant lignocellulose to a fermentable product; and incubating the series of polypeptides with a source of lignified plant material, under conditions allowing the polypeptides to cooperatively produce a fermentable product from the lignified plant material.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {2013},
month = {5}
}

Works referenced in this record:

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Effects of juvenile hormone on gene expression in the pheromone-producing midgut of the pine engraver beetle, Ips pini
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Characterization of General Esterases in Workers of the Eastern Subterranean Termite (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)
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Juvenile hormone titers and caste differentiation in the damp-wood termite Hodotermopsis sjostedti (Isoptera, Termopsidae)
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The Mevalonate Pathway and the Synthesis of Juvenile Hormone in Insects
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Hidden cellulases in termites: revision of an old hypothesis
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Hemicellulose bioconversion
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