Paenibacillus spp. and methods for fermentation of lignocellulosic materials

• US 8,652,819 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2009
• Issued: 02/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The University of Georgia Research Foundation, Inc.
• Original Assignee: The University of Georgia Research Foundation, Inc.
• Inventors: Doran Peterson, Joy, DeCrescenzo-Henriksen, Emily
• Primary Examiner(s): Saidha, Tekchand
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ramanujam, Rama P
• Application Number:
  US12/993,318
• Publication Number:
  US 20110151532A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,733 Days
• Field of Search: 435/162, 435/252.3
• US Class Current: 435/162
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 1/04 by using bacteria
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 39/00 Processes involving microorganisms of different genera in the same process, simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/06 Ethanol, i.e. non-beverage
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/065 with microorganisms other than yeasts
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/10 Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel

Abstract

Provided herein are methods for producing a fermentation product, such as ethanol, by co-culture of a member of the genus Paenibacillus and an ethanologenic microbe, such as yeast or E. coli. Also provided are methods for making enzymes useful in the saccharification of a pretreated lignocellulosic material. The enzymes may be made by culturing a member of the genus Paenibacillus in a composition suitable for production of such enzymes. An example of such a composition is a pretreated lignocellulosic material, for example, spent hydrolysates. Also provided are genetically modified members of the genus Paenibacillus that have been genetically modified to not produce an antimicrobial, for instance, a polymyxin E.

Claims

1. A method of producing polymyxin comprising:

providing a composition comprising spent hydrolysates;

culturing a Paenibacillus spp. in the composition under conditions suitable for the production by the Paenibacillus spp. of an enzyme having saccharifying activity, wherein the saccharifying activity is selected from xylanase activity, pectinase activity, amylase activity, mannanase activity, and cellulase activity, wherein polymyxin is produced.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the spent hydrolysates are obtained from fermentation of a pretreated lignocellulosic material.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the culturing results in a second composition comprising the Paenibacillis spp. and an enzyme having saccharifying activity, the method further comprising mixing the second composition with a composition comprising a pretreated lignocellulosic material to result in a fermentation composition.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising contacting the fermentation composition with an enthanologenic yeast.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the yeast is Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the Paenibacillus spp. is Paenibacillus amylolyticus.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the Paenibacillis spp. produces an enzyme having saccharifying activity when incubated on a medium comprising inorganic salts and a carbon source selected from glucose, mannose, xylose, arabinose, cellulose, pectin, starch, xylan, carboxymethylcellulose, or a combination thereof.

11. The method of claim 4 wherein the ethanologenic microbe is a yeast.

6. A method of producing polymyxin comprising:

culturing a Paenibacillus spp. in a composition comprising spent hydrolysates under conditions suitable for the production by the Paenibacillus spp. of an enzyme having saccharifying activity, wherein the enzyme is selected from a xylanase, a pectinase, an amylase, a mannanase, and a cellulase, wherein the culturing results in a second composition comprising the Paenibacillis spp. and an enzyme having the saccharifying activity, wherein polymyxin is produced.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising substantially removing the Paenibacillis spp. from the second composition.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the Paenibacillis spp. is P. amylolyticus.

12. The method of claim 6 wherein the spent hydrolysates are obtained from fermentation of a pretreated lignocellulosic material.