The present invention relates to microorganisms, in particular yeast, which have been transformed with one or more expression construct(s) for i) the overexpression of the native genes encoding xylulose kinase (XKS1 ), transaldolase (TAL1 ), transketolase 1 (TKL1 ) and transketolase 2 (TKL2) and ii) the expression of a functional heterologous gene encoding a xylose isomerase (XI), wherein the xylose isomerase (XI) gene is derived from a microorganism selected from the group consisting of Thermotoga neapolitana, Anditalea andensis and Clostridium clariflavum. The invention also relates to expression constructs for the transgenic expression of xylose isomerase, methods for fermenting pentose sugars using the microorganisms according to the invention and methods for producing such microorganisms.

Xylose is a product of hydrolysis of hemicellulose and constitutes a significant portion of sugar monomers in lignocellulosic hydrolysate liquor. While many organisms, including Escherichia coli, can naturally utilize xylose as a carbon source, Saccharomyces cerevisiae does not have such capability. However, higher growth inhibitor tolerance and general robustness make yeast a better candidate for utilization of lignocellulosic biomass as a feedstock for the biotech and biofuel industry. Substantial efforts have been made during the last two decades to allow yeast, the world’s largest ethanol producer, to metabolize 5 carbon sugars that constitute up to one third of the sugars in lignocellulosic hydrolysate. Among the 5 carbon sugars in lignocellulosic material, xylose is the dominant component.

Two alternative pathways exist in nature that allow incorporation of xylose into metabolic flux - xylose reductase/xylitol dehydrogenase (XR/XDH) and xylose isomerase (XI) (Figure 1 ) (Ref. 8). Both processes produce xylulose that is then processed further by xylulose kinase (XKS) and the oxidative phase of the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP). The XI route is predominantly found in prokaryotes and the XR/XDH route in eukaryotes, although exceptions from this rule exist. As a rule of thumb, heterologous gene expression is more efficient in closely related organisms because of the similarities in gene expression and protein maturation machineries as well as in the environment these organisms inhabit - i.e. enzymes from a hyperthermophile may require temperatures that are inaccessible to the new host. This suggests that the use of XR/XDH enzymes might be preferred in S. cerevisiae. Reduction of xylose to xylitol is catalyzed by XR and requires NADPH as a cofactor. Oxidation of xylitol to xylulose is catalyzed by XDH, and generates NADH from NAD ⁺ . Rapid utilization of xylose as a carbon source would cause equally rapid NADP and NADH imbalance, resulting in growth inhibition. Therefore, efforts through using the XR/XDH pathway have often resulted in strains with low rate of xylose metabolism and the generation of significant amounts of xylitol as a byproduct, which in turn reduce the product yield (Ref. 9). The other alternative pathway to engineer xylose metabolism through xylose isomerase appears simple as only one enzyme is required and there is no cofactor imbalance problem as mentioned above via XR-XDH pathway. This pathway is common in bacteria but rare in eukaryotic species such as yeast. An anaerobic fungus, Piromyces sp. E2 is one of the very few known species that possess a gene that expresses an active XI enzyme. US 7,622,284 B2 describes the method of expressing Piromyces sp XI in S. cerevisiae that resulted in a yeast strain that can metabolize xylose at a low rate.

According to US 8,114,974 B2, chimeric enzymes comprising contiguous amino acids of a fungal xylose isomerase and of a Ruminococcus flavefaciens xylose isomerase are expressed in a host cell such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae. US 7,943,366 B2 relates to yeast cells, which are transformed with an exogenous xylose isomerase gene, which may be derived from fungi such as Piromyces sp or Cyllamyces aberensis or from a bacterium, i.e. Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron. In US 2011/0244525 A1 , a Saccharomyces cell is transformed with a xylose isomerase derived from a Lactococcus species and in US 2011/0269180 A1 , a yeast cell or a filamentous fungal cell expresses a prokaryotic xylose isomerase derived from Clostridium phytofermentans. However, expression of most of xylose isomerase genes from bacterial origin does not result in the presence of an active xylose isomerase in S. cerevisiae, and the exact mechanism for this is not completely understood (Ref. 10). Only a few of XI enzymes from bacterial origins expressed in yeast led to functionally active proteins, but activity is too low to support anaerobic growth on xylose. Therefore, there is still a strong need to identify functional XI enzymes that can be expressed in yeast that have sufficient activities to allow for the use of xylose as carbon source for biobased chemical production.

Moreover, the Saccharomyces cerevisiae pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) is the primary metabolic pathway for pentose sugars, which includes xylulose. It acts in parallel to the initial steps of the glycolysis pathway, producing glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate and fructose- e-phosphate from pentose sugars (Figure 2). In the presence of hexose sugars which can be preferentially metabolized, the PPP is principally required to produce ribose sugars. To produce a yeast strain which is capable of efficiently metabolizing xylose at a high rate, expression of a functional XI gene may not be sufficient as the flux into and trough the pentose phosphate pathway might become the limiting factor. In particular, the xylulose kinase (XKS1 ), which converts D-xylulose to D-xylulose-5-phosphate and thereby provides the entry into the pentose phosphate pathway and the transketolases TLK1 and TLK2 as well as the transaldolase (TAL1 ) of the pentose phosphate pathway are of major importance in this context.

It was an objective of the present invention to provide a method for efficient large-scale metabolization of pentose sugars such as xylose. In particular, it was objective of the present invention to provide an inhibitor tolerant and generally robust microorganism such as yeast, preferably of the species Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which is capable of metabolizing pentose sugars, in particular xylose, and produce metabolites such as ethanol in a high yield. Such a microorganism should express an exogenous xylose isomerase, which shows high activity in vivo and provides a substantial yield of the desired product. Further objectives can be derived from the below specification, the provided examples and, in particular, the attached claims.

The above identified objectives are met by a microorganism, in particular a yeast, preferably of the species Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which has been transformed with one or more expression construct(s) for i) the overexpression of native genes encoding xylulose kinase (XKS1 ), transaldolase

(TAL1 ), transketolase 1 (TKL1 ) and transketolase 2 (TKL2) and ii) the expression of a functional heterologous gene encoding a xylose isomerase (XI), wherein the xylose isomerase (XI) gene is derived from a microorganism selected from the group consisting of Thermotoga neapolitana, Anditalea andensis and Clostridium clariflavum.

A number of xylose isomerase (XI) genes from different bacterial origins have been tested in Saccharomyces cerevisiae overexpressing the native xylulose kinase as well and the mentioned enzymes of the PPP. Only three of the XI genes, namely from Thermotoga neapolitana (T. neapolitana), Anditalea andensis (A. andensis) and Clostridium clariflavum (C. clariflavum) were found to show significant activity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the XI from A. andensis being the most active. As already mentioned above, the reasons why most XI genes from bacterial origin do not result in the expression of active enzymes are not understood. Consequently, there appears to be no reasonable approach to predict which XI’s will show significant activity (if any activity at all) when they are expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

A microorganism as described above is preferably a yeast cell, in particular of the species Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which contains native xylose kinase (XKS1 ), transaldolase (TAL1 ), transketolase 1 (TKL1 ) and transketolase 2 (TKL2) and is therefore able to introduce and metabolize pentose sugars via the pentose phosphate pathway. Xylulose kinase (XKS1 ) is an enzyme capable of phosphorylating D-xylulose to D-xylulose-5- phosphate using ATP (EC 2.7.1 .17). Transaldolase 1 (TAL1 ) catalyzes the reaction of sedoheptulose-7-phosphate and D-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate to D-fructose-6-phosphate and D-erythrose-4-phosphate (EC 2.2.1.2). Transketolases 1 and 2 (TKL1 and TKL2) catalyze the transfer of a 2-carbon fragment from D-xylulose-5-phosphate to D-ribose-5- phosphate to form sedoheptulose-7-phosphate and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate as well as the transfer of a 2-carbon fragment from D-xylulose-5-phosphate to erythrose-4-phosphate yielding fructose-6-phosphate and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate (EC 2.2.1.1 ). Xylose isomerase (XI) catalyzes the interconversion of D-xylose and D-xylulose and is found in many bacteria (EC 5.3.1.5).

Expression constructs in the context of the present invention are nucleic acid sequences comprising one or more promoters, respectively followed by one or more genes to be expressed. Promoters are nucleic acid sequences that control the transcription of one or more genes and are located near the transcription start site of the respective gene(s). Each gene to be expressed is usually also followed by a terminator sequence. Promoters capable of overexpression are preferably constitutive promoters, which are active at all times. In the context of the present invention, preferably native genes of Saccharomyces cerevisiae are overexpressed by placing them under the control of suitable promoters, which leads to increased expression of the genes with respect to the unmodified organism expressing the respective endogenous genes.

In contrast, a copy of the XI gene does not naturally exist in the unmodified host organism, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, but is introduced and expressed as a transgene derived from a donor organism. To achieve the expression of a transgene in a host cell, the sequence of the transgene is preferably codon optimized for the host cell and placed under the control of a promoter sequence derived from the host cell. A functional heterologous gene leads to the expression of an enzyme, capable of performing its designated role in the host organism.

The donor organisms, from which the XI genes are derived, are bacteria. Thermotoga neapolitana is a thermophilic bacterium, which can be found in hot spring environments. Anditalea andensis is an alkaliphilic, halotolerant bacterium, which was isolated from very alkaline soil. Clostridium clariflavum is a thermophilic bacterium capable of metabolizing cellulose. Particularly preferred in the context of the present invention is the XI gene from Anditalea andensis because the in vivo activity of the expressed XI is the highest of the genes tested for expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

According to a preferred embodiment the xylose isomerase (XI) is encoded by a nucleic acid sequence having at least 66%, preferably at least 80%, more preferably at least 90% and most preferably at least 95% sequence identity to SEQ ID No 21 , SEQ ID No 5 or SEQ ID No 25.

Whenever the present disclosure relates to the percentage of identity of nucleic acid or amino acid sequences to each other, these values define those values as obtained by using the EMBOSS Water Pairwise Sequence Alignments (nucleotide) program (www.ebi.ac.uk/Tools/psa/emboss_water/nucleotide.html) nucleic acids or the EMBOSS Water Pairwise Sequence Alignments (protein) program

(www.ebi.ac.uk/Tools/psa/emboss_water/) for amino acid sequences. Alignments or sequence comparisons as used herein refer to an alignment over the whole length of two sequences compared to each other. Those tools provided by the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) European Bioinformatics Institute (EBI) for local sequence alignments use a modified Smith-Waterman algorithm (see www.ebi.ac.uk/Tools/psa/ and Smith, T.F. & Waterman, M.S. "Identification of common molecular subsequences" Journal of Molecular Biology, 1981 147 (1 ): 195-197). When conducting an alignment, the default parameters defined by the EMBL-EBI are used. Those parameters are (i) for amino acid sequences: Matrix = BLOSUM62, gap open penalty = 10 and gap extend penalty = 0.5 or (ii) for nucleic acid sequences: Matrix = DNAfull, gap open penalty = 10 and gap extend penalty = 0.5.

SEQ ID No 21 corresponds to the nucleic acid sequence of the native XI gene of T. neapolitana, SEQ ID No 5 to the native XI gene of A. andensis and SEQ ID No 25 to the native XI gene of C. clariflavum. Sequences having a sequence identity of at least 66%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99%, respectively, may be used in the context of the present invention as long as they allow expression of a functional xylose isomerase. Since the genes are expressed in a host organism different from the respective donor, the sequences are preferably codon optimized for the expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Hence, differences due to the codon-optimization for Saccharomyces cerevisiae covered by the above given sequences identities are known to the skilled person and can easily be identified.

Preferably the xylose isomerase (XI) is represented by an amino acid sequence having at least 80%, preferably at least 90%, more preferably at least 95% and most preferably at least 99% sequence identity to SEQ ID No 22, SEQ ID No 6 or SEQ ID No 26.

SEQ ID No 22 corresponds to the amino acid sequence of the native XI from T. neapolitana, SEQ ID No 6 to the native XI of A. andensis and SEQ ID No 26 to the native XI of C. clariflavum. Sequences having a sequence identity of at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99%, respectively, may be used in the context of the present invention as long as they constitute a functional xylose isomerase.

According to a preferred embodiment, the xylulose kinase (XKS1 ) is encoded by a nucleic acid sequence having at least 80%, preferably at least 90%, more preferably at least 95% and most preferably at least 99% sequence identity to SEQ ID No 74, the transaldolase (TAL1 ) is encoded by a nucleic acid sequence having at least 80%, preferably at least 90%, more preferably at least 95% and most preferably at least 99% sequence identity to SEQ ID No 77, the transketolase 1 (TKL1 ) is encoded by a nucleic acid sequence having at least 80%, preferably at least 90%, more preferably at least 95% and most preferably at least 99% sequence identity to SEQ ID No 80 and the transketolase 2 (TKL2) is encoded by a nucleic acid sequence having at least 80%, preferably at least 90%, more preferably at least 95% and most preferably at least 99% sequence identity to SEQ ID No 83.

SEQ IDs No 74, 77, 80 and 83 correspond to the nucleic acid sequence of the native XKS1 gene, the native TAL1 gene and the native TKL1 and TKL2 genes of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Sequences having a sequence identity of at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99%, respectively, may be used in the context of the present invention as long as they allow expression of an enzyme capable of performing the respective function.

In a further preferred embodiment, each of the genes encoding xylulose kinase (XKS1 ), transaldolase (TAL1 ), transketolase 1 (TKL1 ), transketolase 2 (TKL2) and xylose isomerase (XI) is under the control of a constitutive promoter, wherein the constitutive promoter is selected from TDH3 encoded by a nucleic acid sequence having at least 80%, preferably at least 90%, more preferably at least 95% and most preferably at least 99% sequence identity to SEQ ID No 73, PGK1 encoded by a nucleic acid sequence having at least 80%, preferably at least 90%, more preferably at least 95% and most preferably at least 99% sequence identity to SEQ ID No 76, CYC19 encoded by a nucleic acid sequence having at least 80%, preferably at least 90%, more preferably at least 95% and most preferably at least 99% sequence identity to SEQ ID No 79, PFK1 encoded by a nucleic acid sequence having at least 80%, preferably at least 90%, more preferably at least 95% and most preferably at least 99% sequence identity to SEQ ID No 82, truncated HXT7 encoded by a nucleic acid sequence having at least 80%, preferably at least 90%, more preferably at least 95% and most preferably at least 99% sequence identity to SEQ ID No 90 and TEF encoded by a nucleic acid sequence having at least 80%, preferably at least 90%, more preferably at least 95% and most preferably at least 99% sequence identity to SEQ ID No 85.

The genes of the expression construct according to the present invention are preferably placed under the control of constitutive promoters of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Sequences having a sequence identity of at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99%, respectively, may be used in the context of the present invention as long as they are able to promote expression or, respectively, overexpression of the genes as described hererin.

Preferably, the XKS1 gene is placed under the control of the TDH3 promoter and/or the TAL1 gene is placed under the control of the PGK1 promoter and/or the TKL1 gene is placed under the control of the CYC19 promoter and the TKL2 gene is placed under the control of the PFK1 promoter. Further preferably, the XI gene is placed under the control of the truncated HXT7 or the TEF promoter. These combinations of genes and promoters resulted in higher expression levels than other combinations.

In the respective expression construct(s), the sequences of the genes described above are preferably followed by terminator sequences derived from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Such terminator sequences may be selected from tDIT 1 (SEQ ID No 75), tYHI9 (SEQ ID No 78), tEFM (SEQ ID No 81 ), tRPL15A (SEQ ID No 84), tTEF (SEQ ID No 87), tCYC1 (SEQ ID No 91 ) and tADH1 (SEQ IS No 94). Preferably, the XKS1 is followed by the DIT1 terminator and/or the TAL1 gene is followed by the YHI9 terminator and/or the TKL1 gene is followed by the EFM1 terminator and the TKL2 gene is followed by the RPL15A terminator. Further preferably, the XI gene is followed by the CYC1 terminator or the ADH1 terminator. The combinations of genes and promoters as specified above with the terminators as specified above resulted in particularly high expression levels.

The present invention also relates to an expression construct for the expression of a gene encoding a xylose isomerase (XI) derived from a microorganism selected from the group consisting of T. neapolitana, A. andensis and C. clariflavum, wherein the xylose isomerase (XI) gene is under the control of a constitutive promoter of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Particularly preferred is a gene encoding XI derived from A. andensis.

Preferably, the gene encoding the xylose isomerase (XI) is represented by a nucleic acid sequence having at least 66%, preferably at least 80%, more preferably at least 90% and most preferably at least 95% sequence identity to SEQ ID No 21 , SEQ ID No 5 or SEQ ID No 25.

SEQ ID No 21 corresponds to the nucleic acid sequence of the native XI gene of T. neapolitana, SEQ ID No 5 to the native XI gene of A. andensis and SEQ ID No 25 to the native XI gene of C. clariflavum. Sequences having a sequence identity of at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99%, respectively, may be used in the context of the present invention as long as they allow expression of a functional xylose isomerase. Since the genes are intended to be expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the sequences are preferably codon optimized for Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Differences due to codon- optimization covered by the sequence identities given above are known to the skilled person.

Further preferably, the constitutive promoter is selected from truncated HXT7 encoded by a nucleic acid sequence having at least 80%, preferably at least 90%, more preferably at least 95% and most preferably at least 99% sequence identity to SEQ ID No 90 and TEF encoded by a nucleic acid sequence having at least 80%, preferably at least 90%, more preferably at least 95% and most preferably at least 99% sequence identity to SEQ ID No 85.

The XI gene of the expression construct described above is preferably placed under the control of constitutive promoters of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Sequences having a sequence identity of at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99%, respectively, may be used in the context of the present invention as long as they are able to promote expression of a functional XI.

The present invention further relates to a method for fermenting pentose sugar(s) comprising culturing a microorganism as described above in a culture medium comprising pentose sugar(s) under conditions, in which the pentose sugar(s) can be metabolized.

Preferably, the method is a method for fermenting xylose. As already mentioned above, xylose is a product of hydrolysis of hemicellulose and represents a significant portion of sugar monomers in lignocellulosic hydrolysate liquor. It is therefore particularly desirable to be able to ferment xylose to use lignocellulosic biomass as a feedstock for the biotech and biofuel industry.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the culture medium therefore comprises or consists of lignocellulosic biomass and/or a hydrolysate thereof.

Useful products of pentose sugar fermentation, in particular xylose fermentation, are ethanol, methanol, propanol, isopropanol, butanol, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, 1 ,4- butanediol, glycerin, formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, valeric acid, caproic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, oxalic acid, malonic acid, succinic acid or succinate, glutaric acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, glycolic acid, lactic acid or lactate, gamma- hydroxybutyric acid, 3-hydroxyalkanoic acid, alanine, methane, ethane, propane, pentane, n-hexane, pyruvate, aspartate, malate, valine, leucine and combinations thereof. Particularly preferred is the production of ethanol, which besides being used as a biofuel has many other uses.

In a method as described above the fermentation therefore produces one or more compounds selected from ethanol, methanol, propanol, isopropanol, butanol, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, 1 ,4-butanediol, glycerin, formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, valeric acid, caproic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, oxalic acid, malonic acid, succinic acid or succinate, glutaric acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, glycolic acid, lactic acid or lactate, gamma-hydroxybutyric acid, 3-hydroxyalkanoic acid, alanine, methane, ethane, propane, pentane, n-hexane, pyruvate, aspartate, malate, valine and leucine, preferably ethanol.

The present invention also relates to the use of a microorganism as described above for the fermentation of pentose sugar(s), in particular xylose, preferably for the production of ethanol from lignocellulosic biomass. A microorganism according to the present invention is capable of efficiently fermenting pentose sugar(s) such as xylose on a large scale and therefore allows industrial production of desired metabolites. Advantageously, it can be used to produce ethanol from lignocellulosic biomass.

Furthermore, the present invention also relates to a method of producing a microorganism as described above comprising the transformation of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain with any expression construct(s) as described above. In particular, the Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain is transformed with expression construct(s) for i) the overexpression of native genes encoding xylulose kinase (XKS1 ), transaldolase (TAL1 ), transketolase 1 (TKL1 ) and transketolase 2 (TKL2) and ii) the expression of a functional heterologous gene encoding a xylose isomerase (XI), wherein the xylose isomerase (XI) gene is derived from a microorganism selected from the group consisting of T. neapolitana, A. andensis and C. clariflavum.

Particularly preferred is the XI gene derived from A. andensis.

With respect to the respective genes and sequences, the previous remarks apply accordingly.

The expression construct may be delivered to the cell on a plasmid and may be expressed from the plasmid or integrated into the genome of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain. A person skilled in the art is well aware of suitable transformation methods and the related advantages.

According to a preferred embodiment, the expression construct is integrated into a chromosome of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain, preferably chromosome 16. A preferred assembly of the PPP pathway targeting an integration site at chromosome 16 is shown in Figure 4. It has been demonstrated by Flagfeldt, D.B., Siewers, V., Huang, L. and Nielsen, J. in “Characterization of chromosomal integration sites for heterologous gene expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae”. Yeast, 26 (10), 545-551 , 2009, that this integration site resulted in the highest expression for heterologous genes. In the assembly shown in Figure 4, the kanamycin resistance marker may then be replaced by the XI integration module.

In a further preferred embodiment, the expression construct for the xylose isomerase (XI) as described above is integrated into a recombinant expression construct for the overexpression of the native genes for xylulose kinase (XKS1 ), transaldolase (TAL1 ), transketolase 1 (TKL1 ) and transketolase 2 (TKL2).

Advantageously, this embodiment results in an expression construct containing all the necessary genes, which allows transformation in one step. A particularly preferred embodiment of such an expression construct is described in the following examples. However, variations according to the above disclosure are possible as can be appreciated by the skilled person.

Short description of the figures:

Figure 1 shows the two routes for consumption of xylose as a carbon source. Xylose is converted to xylulose by either xylose reductase and xylitol dehydrogenase (A) or xylose isomerase (B). Both pathways consume ATP but xylose reductase and xylitol dehydrogenase also utilize NADPH and produce NADH causing cofactor imbalance (Ref 8).

Figure 2 shows a schematic overview of the pentose phosphate pathway in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Figure 3 shows the expression cassette fragments generated for the overexpression of XKS1 , TAL1 , TKL1 and TKL2.

Figure 4 shows the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) assembly with Kan ^R selection marker targeting an integration site at chromosome 16 of the Saccharomyces laboratory strain SEY6210.

Figure 5 shows XKS and pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) expression by RT-qPCR. SEY6210 is the parental Saccharomyces laboratory strain; CJY21 and CJY22 are two isogenic clones isolated by transforming SEY6210 with the XKS- PPP overexpression module.

Figure 6 shows the gene expression cassette generated for overexpression of xylose isomerase under the truncated HXT7 promoter.

Figure 7 shows the integration cassette generated for replacing the KanR resistance marker with a single copy of the candidate xylose isomerase module. Figure 8 shows the result of the xylose isomerase activity assay using whole cell extracts performed at 37°C and 42°C.

Figure 9 shows the pRS426 expression vector used in example 2.

Figure 10 shows the aerobic growth of the (transformed) strains on xylose using YEP medium with 20 g/L xylose at 30 °C and shaking at 200 rpm.

Figure 11 shows the anaerobic growth of the (transformed) strains on xylose using YEP medium with 20 g/L xylose at 30 °C and shaking at 200 rpm.

Figure 12 shows the xylose consumption in aerobic (left column) and anaerobic (right column) fermentation using YEP medium with 20 g/L xylose at 30°C and shaking at 200 rpm.

Figure 13 shows the ethanol production in aerobic (left column) and anaerobic (right column) fermentation using YEP medium with 20 g/L xylose at 30°C and shaking at 200 rpm.

Example 1 : Construction of a XKS-PPP expression module

A Saccharomyces test strain was engineered to overexpress the yeast pentose phosphate pathway. Gene expression cassette fragments were generated for overexpression of XKS1 under the TDH3 promoter, TAL1 under the PGK1 promoter, TKL1 under the CYC19 promoter and TKL2 under the PFK1 promoter (Figure 3).

Construction of XKS expression module: the TDH3 promoter was PCR amplified from SEY6210 genomic DNA using the primers identified by SEQ. ID. No. 29 and SEQ. ID. No. 30. The coding region of XKS1 gene was PCR amplified from SEY6210 genomic DNA using the primers identified by SEQ. ID. No. 31 and SEQ. ID. No. 32. The DIT1 terminator was PCR amplified from SEY6210 genomic DNA using the primers identified by SEQ. ID. No. 33 and SEQ. ID. No. 34. PCR products were then column purified and assembled into Smal- linearized pRS426 (Ref. 2) vector by Gibson isothermal assembly (Ref. 1 ).

Construction of TAL1 expression module: the PGK1 promoter was PCR amplified from SEY6210 genomic DNA using the primers identified by SEQ. ID. No. 35 and SEQ. ID. No. 36. The coding region of TAL1 gene was PCR amplified from SEY6210 genomic DNA using the primers identified by SEQ. ID. No. 37 and SEQ. ID. No. 38. The YHI9 terminator was PCR amplified from SEY6210 genomic DNA using the primers identified by SEQ. ID. No. 39 and SEQ. ID. No. 40. PCR products were then column purified and assembled into Smal- linearized pRS426 (Ref. 2) vector by Gibson isothermal assembly (Ref. 1 ).

Construction of TKL1 expression module: the CYC19 promoter was PCR amplified from SEY6210 genomic DNA using the primers identified by SEQ. ID. No. 41 and SEQ. ID. No. 42. The coding region of TKL1 gene was PCR amplified from SEY6210 genomic DNA using the primers identified by SEQ. ID. No. 43 and SEQ. ID. No. 44. The EFM1 terminator was PCR amplified from SEY6210 genomic DNA using the primers identified by SEQ. ID. No. 45 and SEQ. ID. No. 46. PCR products were then column purified and assembled into Smal- linearized pRS426 (Ref. 2) vector by Gibson isothermal assembly (Ref. 1 ).

Construction of TKL2 expression module: the PFK1 promoter was PCR amplified from SEY6210 genomic DNA using the primers identified by SEQ. ID. No. 47 and SEQ. ID. No. 48. The coding region of TKL2 gene was PCR amplified from SEY6210 genomic DNA using the primers identified by SEQ. ID. No. 49 and SEQ. ID. No. 50. The RPL15A terminator was PCR amplified from SEY6210 genomic DNA using the primers identified by SEQ. ID. No. 51 and SEQ. ID. No. 52. PCR products were then column purified and assembled into Smal- linearized pRS426 (Ref. 2) vector by Gibson isothermal assembly (Ref. 1 ).

Construction of TKL1-XKS1 expression module: the TKL1 cassette was PCR amplified from pRS426 vector containing TKL1 expression module using the primers identified by SEQ. ID. No. 53 and SEQ. ID. No. 54. The XKS1 cassette was PCR amplified from pRS426 vector containing XKS1 expression module using the primers identified by SEQ. ID. No. 55 and SEQ. ID. No. 56. PCR products were then column purified and assembled into Smal- linearized pRS426 (Ref. 2) vector by Gibson isothermal assembly (Ref. 1 ).

Construction of TKL2-TAL1 expression module: the TKL2 cassette was PCR amplified from pRS426 vector containing TKL2 expression module using the primers identified by SEQ. ID. No. 59 and SEQ. ID. No. 60. The TAL1 cassette was PCR amplified from pRS426 vector containing TAL1 expression module using the primers identified by SEQ. ID. No. 57 and SEQ. ID. No. 58. PCR products were then column purified and assembled into Smal- linearized pRS426 (Ref. 2) vector by Gibson isothermal assembly (Ref. 1 ).

Construction of XKS-PPP expression module: The TKL1-XKS1 cassette was PCR amplified from pRS426 vector containing TKL1-XKS1 expression module using the primers identified by SEQ. ID. No. 61 and SEQ. ID. No. 62. The Kan ^R selection marker (SEQ ID No: 86) was PCR amplified from pRS42K (Ref. 1 ) using the primers identified by SEQ. ID No. 63 and SEQ. ID. No. 64. The TAL1-TKL2 cassette was PCR amplified from pRS426 vector containing TAL1-TKL2 expression module using the primers identified by SEQ. ID No. 65 and SEQ. ID. No. 66. PCR products were then column purified and assembled into Smal- linearized pRS426 (Ref. 2) vector by Gibson isothermal assembly (Ref. 1 ).

Construction of XKS-PPP chromosome 16 integration module: A 5’ homology arm, CHR16-UP (SEQ ID No: 88), targeting chromosome 16 of the Saccharomyces laboratory strain SEY6210 was amplified from SEY6210 genomic DNA using the primers identified by SEQ. ID No. 69 and SEQ. ID. No. 70. The PPP-KanR module was amplified from pRS426 vector containing PPP-KanR using the primers identified by SEQ. ID No. 67 and SEQ. ID. No. 68. A 3’ homology arm, CHR16-DOWN (SEQ ID No: 89), targeting chromosome 16 of the Saccharomyces laboratory strain SEY6210 was amplified from SEY6210 genomic DNA using the primers identified by SEQ. ID No. 71 and SEQ. ID. No. 72. PCR products were then column purified and assembled into Smal-linearized pRS426 (Ref. 2) vector by Gibson isothermal assembly (Ref. 1 ). The integration cassette containing homology arms, the PPP, and the KanR marker was liberated from the plasmid backbone with BamHI and Sail to create a linear recombination cassette (Figure 4), and then transformed into SEY6210. Screening transformants resulted in isogenic clones CJY21 and CJY22. Overexpression of the XKS and PPP genes was verified by RT-qPCR (Figure 5).

Example 2: XI candidate screening

A total of 14 xylose isomerase enzyme candidates were translated from nucleotide SEQ. ID. No. 1 , 3, 5, 7, 9, 1 1 , 13, 15, 17, 19, 21 , 23, 25 and 27 into protein sequences SEQ. ID. No. 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26 and 28, codon-optimized for Saccharomyces, and synthesized (IDT).These synthesized candidate genes were then cloned into pRS427 ² under control of the truncated, constitutive HXT77-391 (Ref. 3) promoter (SEQ. ID. No. 90) and CYC1 terminator from S. cerevisiae (SEQ. ID. No. 91 ) (Figure 6).

The HXT7 promoter-XI gene-CYC1 terminator cassette was further subcloned into an integration vector with the TEF promoter (SEQ ID. No. 87), which is homologous to the TEF promoter on the 5’ end of the KAN ^R marker in the PPP cassette, the NAT ^R resistance marker (Ref. 4) (SEQ. ID. No. 93), the ADH 1 terminator (SEQ. ID. No. 94) and a TARGET-DOWN sequence (SEQ. ID. No 92) homologous to the 3’ end of the KAN ^R marker in the PPP cassette (Figure 7). This integration module was then transformed into CJY21 , replacing the KAN ^R resistance marker with a single copy of the candidate xylose isomerase module.

Xylose isomerase candidates were assayed for enzymatic activity in vitro. Strains were grown in 5 ml of YPD overnight, harvested, washed, and lysed by mechanical bead beating (MP Biomedical Fastprep) in XI assay lysis buffer (50 mM TRIS pH 7.5, 150 mM NaCI, 0.01 % Triton X-100, 10 mM MgC , 50 mM C0CI2, 50 pM MnC , with Pierce Protease Inhibitors [Pierce 88666]). Protein concentration was determined by Bradford assay (Ref. 5). 50 mI of cleared whole-cell extract (WCE) was incubated with 50 mI of 100 mM D-xylose for 16 hours separately at 37°C and at 42°C, then stopped by heating to 95°C for 5 minutes and cleared by centrifugation.

Quantification of xylulose was done by sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH)-based, NADH-linked assay (Ref. 6). In a 96-well plate (Corning #3635), SDH buffer (Megazymes) and 150 mM NADH were combined with 10 m I of assayed sugar solution at a total volume of 200 mI, mixed, and then scanned for A3 ₄₀ . 3.5 mI of SDH solution (Megazymes) was added, mixed, and allowed to incubate at room temperature for 15 minutes. The plate was then scanned again for A3 ₄₀ . NADH concentration in the assay solution was determined using the extinction coefficient at A3 ₄₀ (6220 M ^_1 cm ^-1 ) and path length of 0.58 cm, then used to calculate the xylulose concentration. Xylose isomerase reaction velocity [pmoles / min / mg WCE] was then calculated for the enzymatic conversion of D-xylose to xylulose. Three candidates were identified with in vitro xylose isomerase activity when expressed in Saccharomyces (Figure 8).

XI candidates showing strong activity in the initial screen from T. neapolitana (SEQ. ID. No. 22), A. andensis, (SEQ. ID. No. 6) and C. clariflavum (SEQ. ID. No. 26) were then subcloned into pRS426 (Figure 9) under control of the strong constitutive pTEF promoter (SEQ. ID. No. 85).

These plasmids were then transformed into CJY21 and growth were determined by measuring absorbance at 600nm in aerobic shake flasks (Figure 10) and anaerobic pressure bottles (Figure 1 1 ) in YEP + 20 g/l D-xylose. Xylose consumption and ethanol formation were also monitored by HPLC at fermentation time of 48 h (for A. andensis, 120 h sample was also measured for ethanol production) (Figures 12 and 13).

Enzyme kinetics for strains CJY21 containing pRS426 expression vector expressing XI’s from T. neapolitana (SEQ. ID. No. 22), A. andensis, (SEQ. ID. No. 6) and C. clariflavum (SEQ. ID. No. 26) were repeated as above using D-xylose concentrations of 50 mM, 25 mM, 5 mM, and 1 mM in 30 minute reactions at 30°C. Vmax was calculated using the Michaelis-Menten kinetic equation and shown in Tablel along with reference XI activities for Piromyces sp. and Clostridium phytofermentas xylose isomerases taken from literature. Table 1 : In-vitro xylose isomerase activities

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