HETEROLOGOUS EXPRESSION OF UREASE IN ANAEROBIC, THERMOPHILIC HOSTS

摘要

The invention is directed to the heterologous expression of urease in anaerobic thermophilic hosts, such as Thermoanaerobacterium, Thermoanaerobacter, and other related genera. For example, the anaerobic thermophilic host can be T. saccharolyticum. The host cells express the catalytic subunits of the urease enzyme together with the accessory proteins ureDEFG that facilitate protein folding and nickel activation. The invention further relates to the use of urea as a nitrogen source in the growth of microorganisms involved in consolidated bioprocessing systems.