ARS | Publication request: TOWARDS THE DEVELOPMENT OF A PROCESS TECHNOLOGY FOR MAKING XYLITOL FROM GLUCOSE: OPTIMIZATION OF D-ARABITOL PRODUCTION FROM GLUCOSE BY A NEWLY ISOLATED ZYGOSACCHAROMYCES ROUXII

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: June 21, 2006
Publication Date: June 21, 2006
Citation: Saha, B.C., Sakakibara, Y., Cotta, M.A. 2006. Towards the development of a process technology for making xylitol from glucose: optimization of D-arabitol production from glucose by a newly isolated Zygosaccharomyces rouxii [abstract]. International Specialised Symposium on Yeasts. p. 145.

Technical Abstract: Xylitol is a reduced-calorie sweetener with anticariogenic properties that does not need insulin for its metabolism by diabetics. Many yeasts have the capability to produce xylitol from xylose. The enzyme NADPH-dependent xylose reductase (EC 1.1.1.21) catalyzes the reduction of xylose to xylitol. We have studied the production of xylitol from xylose, mixed sugar substrates (xylose, arabinose, glucose), and corn fiber acid hydrolyzate by three yeasts (Candida entomaea, Candida peltata, and Pichia guilliermondii). However, these yeasts convert glucose to ethanol and L-arabinose to L-arabitol. There is a growing interest in the production of xylitol from a readily available, cheap substrate such as glucose. As a first step to produce xylitol from glucose via the D-arabitol route, we have isolated a yeast, Zygosaccharomyces rouxii NRRL B-27624, from honey bee hives. The yeast was able to utilize high concentrations of glucose and produce D-arabitol as the major metabolic product in a very good yield. In this presentation, the factors affecting the D-arabitol production by this yeast will be presented. The strategies for converting D-arabitol to xylitol by biotransformation and enzymatic means will be highlighted. The problems and prospects of developing a cost-effective fermentation process using yeast for production of xylitol from lignocellulosic hydrolyzates will be presented.