Project Number: 3620-41000-118-03
Project Type: Specific C/A

Start Date: Sep 30, 2002
End Date: Sep 30, 2005

Objective:
The objective of this cooperative research project is to screen for and select a fermentative yeast strain of the ethanologenic genus Saccharomyces that is capable of rapid galactose utilization in lignocellulosic sugar environments, and biochemically and genetically characterize such a strain.

Approach:
The focus of this proposed research will be to screen for, select, and characterize a Saccharomyces yeast strain that overcomes conventional glucose- and mannose-mediated catabolite repression of galactose metabolism gene transcription, and thereby rapidly consumes all lignocellulosic hexose sugars. It is hypothesized that natural yeasts in specific environments have altered their regulatory systems to accommodate unconventional sugar utilization patterns, while maintaining resource efficiency and growth kinetics suitable to those particular niches. Such strains, obtained from natural culture collections but initially harvested from specific habitats, will eliminate or greatly reduce residual sugar accumulation in batch and continuous fermentation processes, and will greatly increase ethanol productivity during bioconversion of lignocellulosic feedstocks. If evident, the vulnerability of some of these strains to toxic inhibitory compounds deriving from lignocellulose treatment will be addressed via cloning of novel galactose utilization genes into more robust yeast species.

Project Team

Cotta, Michael - Mike Shawn Mansfield - Assistant Professor 309-681-6500

Project Annual Reports

FY 2003