HETEROLOGOUS EXPRESSION OF TERMITE CELLULASES IN YEAST

摘要

The present invention provides for heterologous expression of termite and termite-associated symbiont cellulases. The cellulases can, for example, be codon-optimized and expressed in yeast host cells, such as the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The cellulases can also be co-expressed in host cells with other cellulases. The expression in such host cells of the termite and termite-associated symbiont cellulases, and variants and combinations thereof, result in yeast with improved cellulosic activity. Thus, such genes and expression systems are useful for efficient and cost-effective consolidated bioprocessing systems.

主权项

1. An isolated polynucleotide comprising a nucleic acid which encodes the mature endoglucanase of SEQ ID NO: 33, wherein said nucleic acid is codon-optimized for expression in a yeast strain wherein at least one nucleotide within a sequence of 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 consecutive A, T, C or G nucleotides is replaced with a different nucleotide, wherein the nucleotide replacement does not alter the amino acid sequence encoded by the polynucleotide and wherein the nucleotide replacement creates a codon that is the second most frequently used codon to encode an amino acid in the yeast strain.