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Updated: Apr 25, 2026

Techniques for the Evolution of Robust Pentose-fermenting Yeast for Bioconversion of Lignocellulose to Ethanol
Published on: October 24, 2016
Addition of feruloyl esterase and xylanase produced on-site improves sugarcane bagasse hydrolysis
Cleiton Márcio Pinto Braga1, Priscila da Silva Delabona2, Deise Juliana da Silva Lima3
1Embrapa Instrumentation, Rua XV de Novembro 1452, 13560-970 São Carlos, SP, Brazil; Graduate Program in Biotechnology, Federal University of São Carlos, 13565-905 São Carlos, SP, Brazil; Brazilian Bioethanol Science and Technology Laboratory (CTBE), Rua Giuseppe Maximo Scolfaro 10000, 13083-970 Campinas, SP, Brazil.
Abstract:
Accessory enzymes that assist biomass degradation could be used to improve the recovery of fermentable sugar for use in biorefineries. In this study, different fungal strains isolated from the Amazon rainforest were evaluated in terms of their ability to produce feruloyl esterase (FAE) and xylanase enzymes, and an assessment was made of the contributions of the enzymes in the hydrolysis of pretreated sugarcane bagasse. In the selection step, screening using plate assays was followed by shake flask submerged cultivations. After carbon source selection and cultivation in a stirred-tank bioreactor, Aspergillusoryzae P21C3 proved to be a promising strain for production of the enzymes. Supplementation of a commercial enzyme preparation with 30% (v/v) crude enzymatic complex from A. oryzae P21C3 increased the conversion of cellulose derived from pretreated sugarcane bagasse by 36%. Supplementation with FAE and xylanase enzymes produced on-site can therefore be used to improve the hydrolysis of sugarcane bagasse.
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