A system for biofuel production can include a cell, a nanoparticle on a surface of the cell, and an irradiation unit configured to expose the cell to irradiation. A method of producing biofuel can include providing a cell having a nanoparticle on a surface of the cell, exposing the cell to a fuel precursor, irradiating the cell, converting the fuel precursor to a biofuel with the cell, and collecting the biofuel.

This invention is intended to improve the ethanol fermentation ability of a yeast strain having xylose-metabolizing ability with the use of a mutant gene encoding a mutant protein comprising a consensus sequence comprising a substitution of amino acid in the 30th position in SEQ ID NO: 1, amino acid in the 43rd position in SEQ ID NO: 4, and amino acid in the 31st position in SEQ ID NO: 7 with other amino acid residues.

This invention is intended to improve the ethanol fermentation ability of a yeast strain having xylose-metabolizing ability with the use of a mutant gene encoding a mutant protein comprising a consensus sequence comprising a substitution of amino acid in the 30th position in SEQ ID NO: 1, amino acid in the 43rd position in SEQ ID NO: 4, and amino acid in the 31st position in SEQ ID NO: 7 with other amino acid residues.

Provided herein are methods for generating cellular biomass in continuous aerobic fermentation systems. The biomass yield, and the concentration of polyhydroxyalkanoate within the biomass, are each directed to advantageous levels by operating the continuous fermentation system under particular nutrient limitation conditions. Also provided are biomass produced using the provided methods, and animal feed compositions including the provided biomass.

The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having beta-glucanase activity, catalytic domains, carbohydrate binding modules and polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides, catalytic domains or carbohydrate binding modules. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides, catalytic domains or carbohydrate binding modules. The present invention further relates to processes for producing fermentation products from starch-containing or cellulosic-containing material, as well as an enzyme blend or composition, or a recombinant host cell or fermenting organism suitable for use in processes of the invention.

The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having beta-glucanase activity, catalytic domains, carbohydrate binding modules and polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides, catalytic domains or carbohydrate binding modules. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides, catalytic domains or carbohydrate binding modules. The present invention further relates to processes for producing fermentation products from starch-containing or cellulosic-containing material, as well as an enzyme blend or composition, or a recombinant host cell or fermenting organism suitable for use in processes of the invention.

The present disclosure is related to the fields of biology, molecular biology, genetics, microbial fermentation, alcohol production and the like. The present compositions and methods relate to yeast strains comprising genetic modifications that results in modified yeast strains thereof comprising enhanced stress tolerance. Certain embodiments of the disclosure are therefore related to compositions and methods for increasing the efficiency of alcohol production using such modified yeast strains in fermentation reactions/processes.

The present disclosure is related to the fields of biology, molecular biology, genetics, microbial fermentation, alcohol production and the like. The present compositions and methods relate to yeast strains comprising genetic modifications that results in modified yeast strains thereof comprising enhanced stress tolerance. Certain embodiments of the disclosure are therefore related to compositions and methods for increasing the efficiency of alcohol production using such modified yeast strains in fermentation reactions/processes.

A transformant obtained by introducing a DNA of (a1), (a2), or (a3) below, and (b) an alcohol dehydrogenase gene, into a bacterium of the genus Hydrogenophilus, can efficiently produce isobutanol utilizing carbon dioxide as a sole carbon source. (a1) DNA which consists of a base sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1; (a2) DNA which consists of a base sequence having 90% or more identity with SEQ ID NO: 1, the DNA encoding a polypeptide having 2-keto-acid decarboxylase activity; (a3) DNA which hybridizes with a DNA consisting of a base sequence complementary to SEQ ID NO: 1 under stringent conditions, and which encodes a polypeptide having 2-keto-acid decarboxylase activity.

A transformant obtained by introducing a DNA of (a1), (a2), or (a3) below, and (b) an alcohol dehydrogenase gene, into a bacterium of the genus Hydrogenophilus, can efficiently produce isobutanol utilizing carbon dioxide as a sole carbon source. (a1) DNA which consists of a base sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1; (a2) DNA which consists of a base sequence having 90% or more identity with SEQ ID NO: 1, the DNA encoding a polypeptide having 2-keto-acid decarboxylase activity; (a3) DNA which hybridizes with a DNA consisting of a base sequence complementary to SEQ ID NO: 1 under stringent conditions, and which encodes a polypeptide having 2-keto-acid decarboxylase activity.