Biofuel production

Abstract

Methods, enzymes, recombinant microorganism, and microbial systems are provided for converting polysaccharides, such as those derived from biomass, into suitable monosaccharides or oligosaccharides, as well as for converting suitable monosaccharides or oligosaccharides into commodity chemicals, such as biofuels. Commodity chemicals produced by the methods described herein are also provided. Commodity chemical enriched, refinery-produced petroleum products are also provided, as well as methods for producing the same.

1 . A recombinant microorganism for production of a commodity chemical, comprising recombinant DNA encoding a transporter, wherein the transporter transports an alginate-derived polysaccharide into the recombinant microorganism, and wherein said polysaccharide is converted to said commodity chemical in said microorganism. 
     
     
         2 . The microorganism of  claim 1  wherein the transporter is a monosaccharide transporter, disaccharide transporter, trisaccharide transporter, oligosaccharide transporter, or polysaccharide transporter. 
     
     
         3 . The microorganism of  claim 1  wherein the transporter is a symporter, ABC transporter, or permease. 
     
     
         4 . The microorganism of  claim 1  wherein the transporter is a superchannel or outer membrane porin. 
     
     
         5 . The microorganism of  claim 1  wherein the transporter comprises SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 24, or SEQ ID NO: 38. 
     
     
         6 . The microorganism of  claim 1  wherein the alginate-derived polysaccharide is selected from the group consisting of a dialginate, trialginate, pentalginate, hexylginate, heptalginate, octalginate, nonalginate, decalginate, undecalginate, dodecalginate, and polyalginate. 
     
     
         7 . The microorganism of  claim 1  wherein the alginate-derived polysaccharide is a saturated polysaccharide. 
     
     
         8 . The microorganism of  claim 1  wherein the alginate-derived polysaccharide is an unsaturated polysaccharide. 
     
     
         9 . The microorganism of  claim 1  wherein the alginate-derived polysaccharide is selected from the group consisting of b-D-mannuronate, α-L-gluronate, 4-deoxy-L-erythro-5-hexoseulose uronic acid, 4-(4-deoxy-beta-D-mann-4-enuronosyl)-D-mannuronate or L-guluronate, 4-(4-deoxy-beta-D-mann-4-enuronosyl)-dialginate, 4-(4-deoxy-beta-D-mann-4-enuronosyl)-trialginate, 4-(4-deoxy-beta-D-mann-4-enuronosyl)-tetralginate, 4-(4-deoxy-beta-D-mann-4-enuronosyl)-pentalginate, 4-(4-deoxy-beta-D-mann-4-enuronosyl)-hexylginate, 4-(4-deoxy-beta-D-mann-4-enuronosyl)-heptalginate, 4-(4-deoxy-beta-D-mann-4-enuronosyl)-octalginate, 4-(4-deoxy-beta-D-mann-4-enuronosyl)-nonalginate, 4-(4-deoxy-beta-D-mann-4-enuronosyl)-undecalginate, and 4-(4-deoxy-beta-D-mann-4-enuronosyl)-dodecalginate. 
     
     
         10 . The microorganism of  claim 1  wherein the microorganism is yeast. 
     
     
         11 . The microorganism of  claim 1  wherein the microorganism is  E. coli.    
     
     
         12 . A system for the production of a commodity chemical, comprising
 a) an alginate-derived polysaccharide; and   b) a recombinant microorganism comprising recombinant DNA encoding a transporter, wherein the transporter transports an alginate-derived polysaccharide into the recombinant microorganism and wherein said polysaccharide is converted to said commodity chemical in said microorganism.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the transporter is a symporter, ABC transporter, or permease. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the transporter is a superchannel or outer membrane porin. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the transporter comprises SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 24, or SEQ ID NO: 38.