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Effects of Nitrate on Fermentation of Xylose and Glucose by Pachysolen Tannophilus

Bio/Technology volume 1, pages 503–506 (1983)Cite this article

A Correction to this article was published on 01 October 1983

Abstract

Xylose is a major constituent of hardwood and agricultural residues. Its effective utilization is essential to the economic practicability of any process seeking to use these materials for chemical production. A yeast, Pachysolen tannophilus, has been shown to ferment xylose to ethanol, acetic acid and xylitol, but the rate is slow and yields of ethanol are low. Growth on NO3− is known to stimulate synthesis of pentosephosphate pathway enzymes, and these studies showed that NO3− stimulates the aerobic production of ethanol from xylose by Pachysolen. Anaerobic production of ethanol, however, was inhibited by NO3−. Inhibition required induction by growth on NO3−, and inhibition was repressed by NH4+, indicating that nitrate reductase might be involved. Growth rates and product ratios were affected significantly by the nitrogen source used. These results suggest that selection for NO3− utilization could be a useful screen in the development of yeast strains with improved ability to ferment xylose.

*Maintained in cooperation with the University of Wiscosin, Madison, Wis.

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  1. USDA Forest Products Laboratory,*, Madison, Wisconsin, 53705

    Thomas W. Jeffries

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Jeffries, T. Effects of Nitrate on Fermentation of Xylose and Glucose by Pachysolen Tannophilus. Nat Biotechnol 1, 503–506 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt0883-503

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt0883-503

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