RECOMBINANT BETA-GLUCOSIDASE VARIANTS FOR PRODUCTION OF SOLUBLE SUGARS FROM CELLULOSIC BIOMASS

摘要

The invention relates to recombinant expression of a variant form of a fungal C1 strain ²-glucosidase. The invention also relates to the generation of fermentable sugars from biomass and the production of biofuels by fermentation of the sugars using genetically modified organisms expressing the ²-glucosidase variant. The invention provides methods for producing a fermentable sugar, such as glucose, from cellobiose by contacting cellobiose with a recombinant ²-glucosidase variant protein, such as a variant protein secreted by a recombinant host cell into culture medium. Methods of the invention may be used for conversion of a biomass substrate to a fermentable sugar, and ultimately to ethanol or other biofuel.