Project Number: 3620-41000-147-03
Project Type: Nonfunded Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Feb 16, 2009
End Date: Feb 15, 2014

Objective:
Identify genomic basis and relationships between enhanced inhibitor tolerance and efficient heterogeneous sugars utilization derived from lignocelluolosic biomass; engineer tolerant Saccharomyces cerevisiae NRRL Y-50049 for improved and balanced utilization of pentoses and hexoses from lignocellulosic hydrolysates.

Approach:
Comparative genome sequence analysis will be carried out to underline genetic fundamentals of the tolerance and in situ detoxification of the biomass conversion inhibitors. Comparative genome expression analysis will be carried out to establish gene regulatory networks involving tolerance and heterogeneous sugar utilizations including pentoses and hexoses. Genetic engineering will be carried out to incorporate heterogeneous genes into the tolerant Y-50049 for improved pentose utilization.