title: Screening for L-arabinose fermenting yeasts.
abstract: Utilization of pentose sugars (D-xylose and L-arabinose) derived from hemicellulose is essential for the economic conversion of biomass to ethanol. Xylose-fermenting yeasts were discovered in the 1980s, but to date, no yeasts have been found that ferment L-arabinose to ethanol in significant quantities. We have screened 116 different yeasts for the ability to ferment L-arabinose and have found the following species able to ferment the sugar: Candida auringiensis, Candida succiphila, Ambrosiozyma monospora, and Candida sp. (YB-2248). Though these yeasts produced ethanol concentrations of 4.1 g/L or less, they are potential candidates for mutational enhancement of L-arabinose fermentation. These yeasts were also found to ferment D-xylose.
authors.affiliation: Fermentation and Biochemistry Research, US Department of Agriculture, Peoria, IL 61604-3999, USA.
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Dien
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Kurtzman
authors.forename: B C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Saha
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Bothast
mesh_terms: D000332:Aerobiosis; D001089:Arabinose / Q000378:metabolism*; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D000431:Ethanol / Q000032:analysis*; D005285:Fermentation / Q000502:physiology*; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D008828:Microbiological Techniques; D014994:Xylose / Q000378:metabolism; D015003:Yeasts / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol; D014994:Xylose; D001089:Arabinose; D005947:Glucose