Methods of combined bioprocessing and related microorganisms, thermophilic and/or acidophilic enzymes, and nucleic acids encoding said enzymes
A genetically modified organism comprising: at least one nucleic acid sequence and/or at least one recombinant nucleic acid isolated from Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius and encoding a polypeptide involved in at least partially degrading, cleaving, transporting, metabolizing, or removing polysaccharides, cellulose, lignocellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, starch, sugars, sugar oligomers, carbohydrates, complex carbohydrates, chitin, heteroxylans, glycosides, xylan-, glucan-, galactan-, or mannan-decorating groups; and at least one nucleic acid sequence and/or at least one recombinant nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide involved in fermenting sugar molecules to a product. Additionally, enzymatic and/or proteinaceous extracts may be isolated from one or more genetically modified organisms. The extracts are utilized to convert biomass into a product. Further provided are methods of converting biomass into products comprising: placing the genetically modified organism and/or enzymatic extracts thereof in fluid contact with polysaccharides, cellulose, lignocellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, starch, sugars, sugar oligomers, carbohydrates, complex carbohydrates, chitin, heteroxylans, glycosides, and/or xylan-, glucan-, galactan-, or mannan-decorating groups.
1. A genetically modified bacterial or fungal organism, the genetically modified organism comprising:
at least one exogenous nucleic acid isolated from Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius and encoding a polypeptide having at least 90% homology to SEQ ID NO:270 and wherein the polypeptide has beta-1,4-xylanase activity; and
at least one nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide associated with fermenting sugar molecules to a product.
2. The genetically modified organism of claim 1 , wherein the at least one nucleic acid from Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius is integrated into the host organism's genome.
3. The genetically modified organism of claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide has beta-1,4-xylanase activity at or above about fifty degrees Celsius.
4. The genetically modified organism of claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide comprises SEQ ID NO:270.
5. The genetically modified organism of claim 1 , wherein the nucleic acid isolated from Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius has at least 90% homology to SEQ ID NO:269.
6. The genetically modified organism of claim 1 , wherein the nucleic acid isolated from Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius is SEQ ID NO:269.
7. An extract isolated from the genetically modified organism of claim 1 .
8. A method for at least partially processing hemicellulose into a product, the method comprising:
contacting a liquid culture medium of the genetically modified organism of claim 1 with hemicellulose.
9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the contacting occurs at or above about fifty degrees Celsius.
10. A method for at least partially processing hemicellulose, the method comprising:
isolating an enzyme extract from the genetically modified organism of claim 1 ; and
contacting the extract with hemicellulose.
11. A method of producing a product from biomass, the method comprising:
pretreating the biomass with an acid;
enzymatically hydrolyzing cellulose and hemicellulose in the biomass to more simple sugars and concurrently fermenting the more simple sugars to a product; and
recovering the product;
wherein at least a portion of the hydrolyzing of cellulose and hemicellulose or the fermentation is performed by the genetically modified organism of claim 1 .
12. A method of producing a product from biomass, the method comprising:
treating the biomass with an acid;
enzymatically hydrolyzing cellulose and hemicellulose in the biomass to more simple sugars;
fermenting the more simple sugars to a product; and
recovering the product;
wherein at least a portion of the hydrolyzing of cellulose and hemicellulose or the fermentation is performed by the genetically modified organism according to claim 1 ; and
wherein the pretreatment, the hydrolyzing of cellulose and hemicellulose, and the fermentation are performed concurrently.
13. A method of processing biomass, the method comprising:
pretreating the biomass with an acid and concurrently enzymatically hydrolyzing cellulose and hemicellulose in the biomass to more simple sugars;
wherein at least a portion of the hydrolyzing of cellulose and hemicellulose is performed by the genetically modified organism of claim 1 .