Expression of stress-tolerance related genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae producing heterologous cellobiohydrolase.

Abstract

Cellulose is the most abundant naturally occurring renewable biopolymer on earth and a major structural component in plant cell walls, making it an ideal source of renewable energy. Consolidated bioprocessing (CBP) is a cost effective method of converting cellulose to liquid fuels such as ethanol. For CBP to be achieved an organism needs to be able hydrolyze cellulose and produce high yields of ethanol. The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is an ideal CBP candidate, however wild type strains do not produce cellulases and these activities need to be engineered into yeast. In addition, the generally low secretion titers achieved by this yeast will have to be overcome.