Autophagy-related gene ATG13 is involved in control of xylose alcoholic fermentation in the thermotolerant methylotrophic yeast Ogataea polymorpha.

Lignocellulosic biomass belongs to main sustainable renewable sources for global energy supply. One of the main challenges in the conversion of saccharified lignocellulosic biomass into bioethanol is the utilization of xylose, since lignocellulosic feedstocks contain a significant amount of this pentose. The non-conventional thermotolerant yeast Ogataea polymorpha naturally ferments xylose to ethanol at elevated temperatures (45°C).