The present invention relates to novel nucleic acid sequences encoding bacterial xylose isomerases that upon transformation of a eukaryotic microbial host cell, such as yeast, to confer to the host cell the ability of isomerising xylose to xylulose. The nucleic acid sequences encode xylose isomerases that originate from bacteria such as Eubacterium sp., Clostridium cellulosi and others. The invention further relates to fermentation processes wherein the transformed host cells ferment a xylose-containing medium to produce ethanol or other fermentation products.

A process for producing butanol is provided, involving: A) mixing water, lactate, an enzyme mixture comprising at least one enzyme, at least one cofactor and at least one coenzyme, to prepare a reaction mixture; B) catalytically reacting the reaction mixture for an amount of time sufficient to cause conversion of lactate into butanol; and wherein the conversion of lactate into butanol in B) is associated with a regeneration system of NAD (P).sup.+/NAD (P) H and/or acetyl-CoA/CoA.

A process for producing butanol is provided, involving: A) mixing water, lactate, an enzyme mixture comprising at least one enzyme, at least one cofactor and at least one coenzyme, to prepare a reaction mixture; B) catalytically reacting the reaction mixture for an amount of time sufficient to cause conversion of lactate into butanol; and wherein the conversion of lactate into butanol in B) is associated with a regeneration system of NAD (P).sup.+/NAD (P) H and/or acetyl-CoA/CoA.

The present invention relates generally to the field of industrial biotechnology and particularly to an improved hydrolysis method for increasing sugar production from a high solids concentration of lignocellulosic biomass, especially one derived from Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) by enzymatic hydrolysis of a lignocellulosic biomass to obtain a slurry, wherein the hydrolysis comprises aliquot additions of enzyme and lignocellulosic biomass; and removal of sugars from the slurry and washing of the residual lignocellulosic biomass.

The present invention relates generally to the field of industrial biotechnology and particularly to an improved hydrolysis method for increasing sugar production from a high solids concentration of lignocellulosic biomass, especially one derived from Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) by enzymatic hydrolysis of a lignocellulosic biomass to obtain a slurry, wherein the hydrolysis comprises aliquot additions of enzyme and lignocellulosic biomass; and removal of sugars from the slurry and washing of the residual lignocellulosic biomass.

The present invention relates to a novel microorganism capable of metabolizing various carbon sources at high rates. A novel microorganism according to the present invention was observed to grow at a very high rate in a minimal medium/nutrient medium, etc., compared to microorganisms such as Escherichia coli, and shows resistance at a high initial sugar/salt concentrations as well as being able to produce lycopene and 2,3-butanediol through genetic manipulation. Therefore, the novel microorganism can be used in various production fields of high value-added compounds using microorganisms.

The present invention relates to a novel microorganism capable of metabolizing various carbon sources at high rates. A novel microorganism according to the present invention was observed to grow at a very high rate in a minimal medium/nutrient medium, etc., compared to microorganisms such as Escherichia coli, and shows resistance at a high initial sugar/salt concentrations as well as being able to produce lycopene and 2,3-butanediol through genetic manipulation. Therefore, the novel microorganism can be used in various production fields of high value-added compounds using microorganisms.

The present invention discloses a membrane-less reactor design for microbial electrosynthesis of alcohols from carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2). The membrane-less reactor design thus facilitates higher and efficient CO.sub.2 transformation to alcohols via single pot microbial electrosynthesis. The reactor design operates efficiently avoiding oxygen contact at working electrode without using membrane, in turn there is an increase in CO.sub.2 solubility and its bioavailability for subsequent CO.sub.2 conversion to alcohols at faster rate. The present invention further provides a process of operation of the reactor for biotransformation of the carbon dioxide.

A combination of an electrochemical device for delivering reducing equivalents to a cell, and engineered metabolic pathways within the cell capable of utilizing the electrochemically provided reducing equivalents is disclosed. Such a combination allows the production of commodity chemicals by fermentation to proceed with increased carbon efficiency.

A combination of an electrochemical device for delivering reducing equivalents to a cell, and engineered metabolic pathways within the cell capable of utilizing the electrochemically provided reducing equivalents is disclosed. Such a combination allows the production of commodity chemicals by fermentation to proceed with increased carbon efficiency.