Valtion Teknillinen Tutkimuskeskus

Xyrofin Oy

Genecor International, Inc.

Merja Penttil&auml;

Michael C Ward

Markku Saloheimo

Jaakko Pere

Ulla Airaksinen

Heikki Ojamo

Barbara A Swanson

Hans S&ouml;derlund

Mats Walfridsson

Johan Hallborn

B&auml;rbel Hahn-H&auml;gerdal

Sirkka Ker&auml;nen

Marja Ilm&eacute;n

This invention relates to recombinant-DNA-technology. Specifically this invention relates to new recombinant yeast strains transformed with xylose reductase and/or xylitol dehydrogenase enzyme genes. A yeast strain transformed with the xylose reductase gene is capable of reducing xylose to xylitol and consequently of producing xylitol in vivo. If both of these genes are transformed into a yeast strain, the resultant strain is capable of producing ethanol on xylose containing medium during fermentation. Further, the said new yeast strains are capable of expressing the said two enzymes. Xylose reductase produced by these strains can be used in an enzymatic process for the production of xylitol in vitro.

Production of ethanol from xylose

A novel microbial protein is described which appears to have significant homology to plant expansin proteins and has the ability to weaken filter paper and swell cellulose. A DNA is described which encodes the novel protein.

Microbial swollenin protein, DNA sequences encoding such swollenins and method of producing such swollenins

The present invention relates to recombinant-DNA-technology, and particularly to genes involved in the control of basic metabolic processes in fungi. The invention specifically provides a mutated form of the native glucose repressor gene cre of filamentous fungi, wherein the mutation is situated in the C-terminal domain, the N-terminal first zinc finger being intact and the C-terminal region including the second zinc finger being mutated so that the viability of a strain carrying said mutated gene is maintained and the glucose repression is relieved.

Process for modifying glucose repression

Growing community of inventors

Helsinki, Finland

Merja Penttilä

Growing community of inventors

Helsinki, Finland

Merja Penttil&auml;

Merja Penttilä