The present invention relates to enzyme compositions for high temperature saccharification of cellulosic material and to uses thereof.

The presently disclosed subject matter provides a process for starch liquefaction using at least two classes of α-amylase enzymes, wherein the starch hydrolysis pattern from at least two of these classes is different. At least one class of enzyme is provided to the liquefaction process in the form of transgenic plant material expressing at least one class of α-amylase enzyme or is provided in the form of a purified or partially-purified α-amylase enzyme preparation. The second or subsequent class(es) of α-amylase enzymes may be provided in the form of additional transgenic plant material expressing the second or subsequent class(es), or may be provided in the form of a second or subsequent purified or partially-purified α-amylase enzyme preparation.

The presently disclosed subject matter provides a process for starch liquefaction using at least two classes of α-amylase enzymes, wherein the starch hydrolysis pattern from at least two of these classes is different. At least one class of enzyme is provided to the liquefaction process in the form of transgenic plant material expressing at least one class of α-amylase enzyme or is provided in the form of a purified or partially-purified α-amylase enzyme preparation. The second or subsequent class(es) of α-amylase enzymes may be provided in the form of additional transgenic plant material expressing the second or subsequent class(es), or may be provided in the form of a second or subsequent purified or partially-purified α-amylase enzyme preparation.

A fucosylated chondroitin sulfate oligosaccharide having the structure as shown in J, and further disclosed is a method for preparing the fucosylated chondroitin sulfate oligosaccharide: using a chondroitin sulfate A salt as a raw material, sequentially performing enzymolysis, a group protection operation, and glycosylation to synthesize the oligosaccharide compound; the certainty of the described structure allows said oligosaccharide to be applied to the medical field.

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Disclosed are compositions and methods relating to variant alpha-amylases. The variant alpha-amylases are useful, for example, for starch liquefaction and saccharification, for cleaning starchy stains in laundry, dishwashing, and other applications, for textile processing (e.g., desizing), in animal feed for improving digestibility, and for baking and brewing.

A method for increasing starch yield and/or gluten yield from corn kernels in a wet milling process, comprising contacting a fiber rich fraction of ground kernels, with an effective amount of SO.sub.2, and an effective amount of one or more hydrolytic enzymes, wherein at least one of said hydrolytic enzymes is selected from xylanase and/or cellulase enzymes, during a fiber-washing step.

The present invention describes a process for pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass that comprises the step of contacting a lignocellulosic biomass with an ionic liquid consisting of a phthalic salt of dicholine in the weight ratio from 1:1 to 1:100 of biomass:ionic liquid, said step taking place for a period of time that varies from 0.4 to 48 hours and in a temperature range that varies from 60 to 200° C. Furthermore, the present invention also relates to the use of the pretreated lignocellulosic biomass in an enzymatic hydrolysis process.

The present invention describes a process for pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass that comprises the step of contacting a lignocellulosic biomass with an ionic liquid consisting of a phthalic salt of dicholine in the weight ratio from 1:1 to 1:100 of biomass:ionic liquid, said step taking place for a period of time that varies from 0.4 to 48 hours and in a temperature range that varies from 60 to 200° C. Furthermore, the present invention also relates to the use of the pretreated lignocellulosic biomass in an enzymatic hydrolysis process.

A process for producing cellulolytic and/or hemicellulolytic enzymes with a strain of microorganism belonging to the family of filamentous fungi. The process includes growing the fungi in an aqueous culture medium, in the presence of at least one carbon-based growth substrate, in a stirred and aerated bioreactor. It also includes the production of enzymes, starting with the aqueous culture medium in the presence of at least one inductive carbon-based substrate and also inducing the production of hydrophobins. Further, at least a portion of the hydrophobins produced in step (b) are reintroduced into the growth step (a).

A process for producing cellulolytic and/or hemicellulolytic enzymes with a strain of microorganism belonging to the family of filamentous fungi. The process includes growing the fungi in an aqueous culture medium, in the presence of at least one carbon-based growth substrate, in a stirred and aerated bioreactor. It also includes the production of enzymes, starting with the aqueous culture medium in the presence of at least one inductive carbon-based substrate and also inducing the production of hydrophobins. Further, at least a portion of the hydrophobins produced in step (b) are reintroduced into the growth step (a).