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 fragment which encodes at least 50 contiguous amino acids of a mature cellulase, wherein said nucleic acid fragment is codon-optimized for expression in a yeast strain and wherein the cellulase is a termite cellulase or a termite-associated symbiont cellulase.