USE OF TYPE C AND D FERULOYL ESTERASES IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BIOFUELS

• US 20100256353A1
• Filed: 08/21/2008
• Published: 10/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Biocatalysts Ltd. (B.R.A.I.N. Biotechnology Research & Info Network UK Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Biocatalysts Ltd. (B.R.A.I.N. Biotechnology Research & Info Network UK Ltd.)
• Inventors: William, Hadyn Gregg, West, Stuart Ian
• Application Number:
  US12/675,691
• Publication Number:
  US 20100256353A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 536/123
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 19/02 Monosaccharides 2-ketogulonic acid C12P7/60
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/10 substrate containing cellulosic material
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/10 Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel

Abstract

The use of an enzyme preparation comprising type C feruloyl esterase or type D feruloyl esterase in the manufacture of biofuels from plant cell wall materials. A method for manufacturing biofuels from plant cell wall materials by converting lignocellulosic materials in said plant cell walls to sugars suitable for use as a fermentation feedstock, which method comprises (i) contacting said plant cell wall material with an enzyme preparation comprising type C feruloyl esterase or type D feruloyl esterase and plant cell wall degrading enzymes and (ii) separating any soluble sugars therefrom for bioconversion to biofuel. A slurry prepared by converting lignocellulosic materials in plant cell walls to sugars using an enzyme preparation comprising type C feruloyl esterase or type D feruloyl esterase, and optionally plant cell-wall degrading enzymes.

Claims

1-44. -44. (canceled)

45. Use of an enzyme preparation comprising type C feruloyl esterase or type D feruloyl esterase in the manufacture of biofuels from plant cell wall materials.

46. Use of an enzyme preparation according to claim 45, wherein the use further comprises use of one or more plant cell wall-degrading enzymes selected from cellulase, xylanase, laccase, pectinase, glucanase, mannanase, amylase and arabinofuranosidase.

47. The use according to claim 45, wherein the feruloyl esterase is a mixture of type C feruloyl esterase and type D feruloyl esterase.

48. The use according to claim 45, wherein the feruloyl esterase is a mixture of type C feruloyl esterase and/or type D feruloyl esterase with type B feruloyl esterase and/or type A feruloyl esterase.

49. The use according to claim 45, wherein the feruloyl esterase is a wild-type or recombinant feruloyl esterase.

50. The use according to claim 49, wherein the recombinant feruloyl esterase is a recombinant type D feruloyl esterase which is a polypeptide with a sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:

1, or a polypeptide having at least 80% sequence homology with a sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO;

1.

51. The use according to claim 49, wherein the recombinant feruloyl esterase is a recombinant type D feruloyl esterase encoded by the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:

2.

52. The use according to claim 49, wherein the recombinant feruloyl esterase further includes a recombinant type C feruloyl esterase which is a polypeptide with a sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:

3, or a polypeptide having at least 80% sequence homology with a sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO;

3.

53. The use according to claim 49, wherein the recombinant type C feruloyl esterase is encoded by the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:

4 and the recombinant type D feruloyl esterase is encoded by the sequence of SEQ ID NO;

2.

54. A method for manufacturing biofuels from plant cell wall materials by converting lignocellulosic materials in said plant cell walls to sugars suitable for use as a fermentation feedstock, which method comprises:

(i) contacting said plant cell wall material with an enzyme preparation comprising type C feruloyl esterase or type D feruloyl esterase and plant cell wall-degrading enzymes; and

(ii) separating any soluble sugars therefrom for bioconversion to biofuel.

55. The method according to claim 54, wherein said plant cell wall-degrading enzyme further comprises one or more of a cellulase, xylanase, laccase, pectinase, glucanase, mannanase, amylase and arabinofuranosidase.

56. The method according to claim 54, wherein the feruloyl esterase is a type D feruloyl esterase.

57. The method according to claim 54, wherein the feruloyl esterase is a mixture of type C feruloyl esterase and type D feruloyl esterase.

58. The method according to claim 54, wherein the feruloyl esterase is a mixture of type C feruloyl esterase and/or type D feruloyl esterase with type B feruloyl esterase and/or type A feruloyl esterase.

59. The method according to claim 54, wherein the feruloyl esterase is a wild-type or recombinant feruloyl esterase.

60. The method according to claim 59, wherein the recombinant feruloyl esterase is a recombinant type D feruloyl esterase which is a polypeptide with a sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:

1, or a polypeptide having at least 80% sequence homology with a sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO;

1.

61. The method according to claim 59, wherein the recombinant feruloyl esterase is a recombinant type D feruloyl esterase encoded by the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:

2.

62. The method according to claim 60, wherein the recombinant feruloyl esterase further includes a recombinant type C feruloyl esterase which is a polypeptide with a sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:

3, or a polypeptide having at least 80% sequence homology with a sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO;

3.

63. The method according to claim 62, wherein the recombinant type C feruloyl esterase is encoded by the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:

4 and the recombinant type D feruloyl esterase is encoded by the sequence of SEQ ID NO;

2.

64. A slurry for use in the manufacture of biofuels prepared by converting lignocellulosic materials in plant cell walls to sugars using an enzyme preparation comprising type C feruloyl esterase or type D feruloyl esterase, and optionally plant cell-wall degrading enzymes.