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Updated: Oct 4, 2025

Techniques for the Evolution of Robust Pentose-fermenting Yeast for Bioconversion of Lignocellulose to Ethanol
Published on: October 24, 2016
Pathway engineering strategies for improved product yield in yeast-based industrial ethanol production
Aafke C A van Aalst1, Sophie C de Valk1, Walter M van Gulik1
1Department of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, 2629, HZ Delft, the Netherlands.
Abstract:
Product yield on carbohydrate feedstocks is a key performance indicator for industrial ethanol production with the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This paper reviews pathway engineering strategies for improving ethanol yield on glucose and/or sucrose in anaerobic cultures of this yeast by altering the ratio of ethanol production, yeast growth and glycerol formation. Particular attention is paid to strategies aimed at altering energy coupling of alcoholic fermentation and to strategies for altering redox-cofactor coupling in carbon and nitrogen metabolism that aim to reduce or eliminate the role of glycerol formation in anaerobic redox metabolism. In addition to providing an overview of scientific advances we discuss context dependency, theoretical impact and potential for industrial application of different proposed and developed strategies.
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