Grantee Research Project Results
Development of a Fermentation Compatible Xylose Isomerase
EPA Contract Number: EPD11037Title: Development of a Fermentation Compatible Xylose Isomerase
Investigators: Potochnik, Stephen
Small Business: Trillium FiberFuels Inc.
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: I
Project Period: March 1, 2011 through August 31, 2011
Project Amount: $79,885
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase I (2011) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: SBIR - Biofuels , Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
Description:
Cellulosic ethanol is a desirable transportation fuel for environmental and economic reasons. One of the issues limiting the commercialization is the utilization of xylose that is not fermented to ethanol by conventional brewing yeasts. Trillium FiberFuels is pioneering the use of xylose isomerase to convert xylose to fermentable xylulose. While this can be accomplished with existing industrial xylose isomerase products, there is a mismatch between their optimum pH (7.5) and temperature (55°C) and those for ethanol fermentation (pH 5, 30°C). During Phase I of this proposal, we will demonstrate the feasibility of using xylose isomerase derived from Candida boidinii for biomass to ethanol applications. Of the many organisms known to produce isomerase, the isomerase from this yeast is unique with a pH optimum of 4.5 and temperature optimum of 37°C.
During Phase I , the yeast will be cultivated and the isomerase harvested. The isomerase will be The Phase II project will be to create a low-cost source of the enzyme and demonstrate its use on a larger scale. The putative C. boidinii xylA will be PCR amplified and cloned into suitable expression vectors for production of xylose isomerase in Pichia pastoris. Practical advantages of the Pichia expression system include extreme protein production and commercially available vectors. Another key parameter is that a eukaryotic host increases the probability of a properly folded and fully active enzyme. Demonstration of the improved recombinant enzyme using Trillium’s 200-liter scale system will provide the stepping stone needed for development of commercial applications.
Progress and Final Reports:
The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.