Heterologous expression of xylanase enzymes in lipogenic yeast Yarrowia lipolytica.

To develop a direct microbial sugar conversion platform for the production of lipids, drop-in fuels and chemicals from cellulosic biomass substrate, we chose Yarrowia lipolytica as a viable demonstration strain. Y. lipolytica is known to accumulate lipids intracellularly and is capable of metabolizing sugars to produce lipids; however, it lacks the lignocellulose-degrading enzymes needed to break down biomass directly.

Separation and quantification of microalgal carbohydrates.

Structural carbohydrates can constitute a large fraction of the dry weight of algal biomass and thus accurate identification and quantification is important for summative mass closure. Two limitations to the accurate characterization of microalgal carbohydrates are the lack of a robust analytical procedure to hydrolyze polymeric carbohydrates to their respective monomers and the subsequent identification and quantification of those monosaccharides. We address the second limitation, chromatographic separation of monosaccharides, here by identifying optimum conditions for the resolution of a synthetic mixture of 13 microalgae-specific monosaccharides, comprised of 8 neutral, 2 amino sugars, 2 uronic acids and 1 alditol (myo-inositol as an internal standard).

Development and validation of a fast high pressure liquid chromatography method for the analysis of lignocellulosic biomass hydrolysis and fermentation products.

A simple, precise, and accurate 10-min high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was developed and validated for the analysis of organic acids, alcohols, and furans from processing biomass into renewable fuels. The method uses an H(+) form cation-exchange resin stationary phase that has a five-fold shorter analysis time versus that in the traditional method. The new method was used for the analysis of acetic acid, ethanol, 5-hydroxymethyl furfural, and furfural.