Termite enzymes and uses thereof for in vitro conversion of lignin-containing materials to fermentable products

US8445240B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• University of Florida Research Foundation, INC. · US

Inventors

• Michael E. Scharf · Gainesville, US
• Drion G. Boucias · Gainesville, US
• Aurelien Tartar · Pembroke Pines, US
• Monique R. Coy · Deltona, US
• Xuguo Zhou · Lexington, US
• Tamer Ibrahim Zaki Salem · East Lansing, US
• Sanjay B. Jadhao · Gainesville, US
• Marsha M. Wheeler · Urbana, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 31, 2010
• Grant date: May 21, 2013
• Expiry date: May 1, 2030

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02E50/10
• WIPO field: Biotechnology
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

The disclosure provides isolated nucleic acid molecules derived from the gut of the termite R flavipes, recombinant nucleic acid molecules comprising a vector and an isolated heterologous nucleic acid molecule operably inserted therein, whereby, when transformed into an appropriate host cell system, the heterologous nucleic acid sequence is expressed as a polypeptide having an activity similar to that when expressed in the gut of the termite R. flavipes. The recombinant nucleic acid molecules can comprise more than one heterologous nucleic acid molecule such that more than one polypeptide may be expressed by the host system. The expressed polypeptides may be substantially purified, or used in a substantially unpurified form, to be admixed with a lignocellulose source to be converted to a fermentable product such as a sugar or a mixture of sugars. One aspect of the present disclosure, therefore, encompasses methods of converting a lignified plant material to a fermentable product, the method comprising obtaining a series of isolated polypeptides of a termite, wherein the series of polypeptides cooperate to convert a plant lignocellulose to a fermentable product; and incubating the s…