Determination of Bioethanol Production from Apricot (Prunus armeniaca) Pomace

Abstract Fruit juice industry generates massive amount of lignocellulosic by-products annually which are excellent raw materials for bioethanol production. In the current study, bioethanol production from apricot (Prunus armeniaca) pomace by Kluyveromyces marxianus was investigated for the first time. Some key parameters for fermentation such as pretreatment methods, biomass and cellulase loading and time, were optimized. Kluyveromyces marxianus produced 30.09 g/L ethanol in the 20% washed apricot pomace and 120 FPU/g cellulose enzyme loading. The highest theoretical yield and Y P/S values were also observed as 94.7% and 0.50 g/g, respectively, when 15 FPU/g cellulose enzyme was used. These results depict that apricot pomace is a promising feedstock for bioethanol production.

Cloning and expression of an endoglucanase gene from the thermotolerant fungus Aspergillus fumigatus DBiNU-1 in Kluyveromyces lactis

Abstract An intronless endoglucanase from thermotolerant Aspergillus fumigatus DBINU-1 was cloned, characterized and expressed in the yeast Kluyveromyces lactis. The full-length open reading frame of the endoglucanase gene from A. fumigatus DBiNU-1, designated Cel7, was 1383 nucleotides in length and encoded a protein of 460 amino acid residues. The predicted molecular weight and the isoelectric point of the A. fumigatus Cel7 gene product were 48.19 kDa and 5.03, respectively. A catalytic domain in the N-terminal region and a fungal type cellulose-binding domain/module in the C-terminal region were detected in the predicted polypeptide sequences. Furthermore, a signal peptide with 20 amino acid residues at the N-terminus was also detected in the deduced amino acid sequences of the endoglucanase from A. fumigatus DBiNU-1. The endoglucanase from A. fumigatus DBiNU-1 was successfully expressed in K. lactis, and the purified recombinant enzyme exhibited its maximum activity at pH 5.0 and 60 °C. The enzyme was very stable in a pH range from 4.0 to 8.0 and a temperature range from 30 to 60 °C. These features make it suitable for application in the paper, biofuel, and other chemical production industries that use cellulosic materials.

Native yeasts for alternative utilization of overripe mango pulp for ethanol production / Levaduras nativas para la utilización alternativa de pulpa de mango senescente para la producción de etanol

Mango fruits (Mangifera indica L.) are highly perishable, causing postharvest losses and producing agroindustrial waste. In the present work, native yeasts were used to evaluate ethanol production in overripe mango pulp. The two isolated strains showed similar sequences in the 18S rDNA region corresponding to Kluyveromyces marxianus, being different to the data reported in the NCBI database. Values of up to 5% ethanol (w/v) were obtained at the end of fermentation, showing a productivity of 4g/l/day, a yield of up to 49% of ethanol and a process efficiency of 80%. These results represent a viable option for using the surplus production and all the fruits that have suffered mechanical injury that are not marketable and are considered as agroindustrial waste, thus achieving greater income and less postharvest losses.

Las frutas de mango (Mangifera indica L.) son altamente perecederas, lo cual causa pérdidas poscosecha y produce desechos agroindustriales. En el presente trabajo, se utilizaron 2 levaduras nativas para evaluar la producción de etanol en pulpa de mango senescente. Las 2 cepas aisladas mostraron similitud en la región 18S ADNr, correspondiente a Kluyveromyces marxianus, la cual es diferente a lo reportado en la base de datos del NCBI. Se obtuvieron valores de hasta el 6% de etanol (v/v) al final de la fermentación, con una productividad de hasta 4g/l/día, un rendimiento de hasta 49% de etanol y una eficiencia en el proceso fermentativo del 80%. Esto representa una opción viable para utilizar excedentes de producción o frutos que han sufrido daño mecánico y no son comercializables, al lograr más ingresos y menos pérdida poscosecha.

Asymmetric bioreduction of ketoesters derivatives by Kluyveromyces marxianus: influence of molecular structure on the conversion and enantiomeric excess

ABSTRACT This study presents the bioreduction of six β-ketoesters by whole cells of Kluyveromyces marxianus and molecular investigation of a series of 13 β-ketoesters by hologram quantitative structure-activity relationship (HQSAR) in order to relate with conversion and enantiomeric excess of β-stereogenic-hydroxyesters obtained by the same methodology. Four of these were obtained as (R)-configuration and two (S)-configuration, among them four compounds exhibited >99% enantiomeric excess. The β-ketoesters series LUMO maps showed that the β-carbon of the ketoester scaffold are exposed to undergo nucleophilic attack, suggesting a more favorable β-carbon side to enzymatic reduction based on adopted molecular conformation at the reaction moment. The HQSAR method was performed on the β-ketoesters derivatives separating them into those provided predominantly (R)- or (S)-β-hydroxyesters. The HQSAR models for both (R)- and (S)-configuration showed high predictive capacity. The HQSAR contribution maps suggest the importance of β-ketoesters scaffold as well as the substituents attached therein to asymmetric reduction, showing a possible influence of the ester group carbonyl position on the molecular conformation in the enzyme catalytic site, exposing a β-carbon side to the bioconversion to (S)- and (R)-enantiomers.

Oxidative stress and antioxidant response in a thermotolerant yeast

Abstract Stress tolerance is a key attribute that must be considered when using yeast cells for industrial applications. High temperature is one factor that can cause stress in yeast. High environmental temperature in particular may exert a natural selection pressure to evolve yeasts into thermotolerant strains. In the present study, three yeasts (Saccharomyces cerevisiae, MC4, and Kluyveromyces marxianus, OFF1 and SLP1) isolated from hot environments were exposed to increased temperatures and were then compared with a laboratory yeast strain. Their resistance to high temperature, oxidative stress, and antioxidant response were evaluated, along with the fatty acid composition of their cell membranes. The SLP1 strain showed a higher specific growth rate, biomass yield, and biomass volumetric productivity while also showing lower duplication time, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and lipid peroxidation. In addition, the SLP1 strain demonstrated more catalase activity after temperature was increased, and this strain also showed membranes enriched in saturated fatty acids. It is concluded that the SLP1 yeast strain is a thermotolerant yeast with less oxidative stress and a greater antioxidant response. Therefore, this strain could be used for fermentation at high temperatures.

Purification of inulinases by changing the ionic strength of the medium and precipitation with alcohols

ABSTRACT The present study evaluated the purification of inulinase by changing the ionic strength of the medium by addition of NaCl and CaCl2 followed by precipitation with n-propyl alcohol or iso-propyl alcohol. The effects of the concentration of alcohols and the rate of addition of alcohols in the crude extract on the purification yield and purification factor were evaluated. Precipitation caused an activation of enzyme and allowed purification factors up to 2.4-fold for both alcohols. The purification factor was affected positively by the modification of the ionic strength of the medium to 0.5 mol.L-1 NaCl before precipitation with the alcohol (n-propyl or iso-propyl). A purification factor of 4.8-fold and an enzyme yield of 78.1 % could be achieved by the addition of 0.5 mol.L-1 of NaCl to the crude extract, followed by the precipitation with 50 % (v/v) of n-propyl alcohol, added at a flow rate of 19.9 mL/min.

Volatile metabolites produced from agro-industrial wastes by Na-alginate entrapped Kluyveromyces marxianus

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of alginate entrapment on fermentation metabolites of Kluyveromyces marxianus grown in agrowastes that served as the liquid culture media. K. marxianus cells entrapped in Na-alginate were prepared using the traditional liquid-droplet-forming method. Whey and pomaces from processed tomatoes, peppers, and grapes were used as the culture media. The changes in the concentrations of sugar, alcohol, organic acids, and flavor compounds were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Both free and entrapped, K. marxianus were used individually to metabolize sugars, organic acids, alcohols, and flavor compounds in the tomato, pepper, grape, and acid whey based media. Marked changes in the fermentation behaviors of entrapped and free K. marxianus were observed in each culture. A 1.45-log increase was observed in the cell numbers of free K. marxianus during fermentation. On the contrary, the cell numbers of entrapped K. marxianus remained the same. Both free and entrapped K. marxianus brought about the fermentation of sugars such as glucose, fructose, and lactose in the agrowaste cultures. The highest volume of ethanol was produced by K. marxianus in the whey based media. The concentrations of flavor compounds such as ethyl acetate, isoamyl alcohol, isoamyl acetate, 2-phenylethyl isobutyrate, phenylethyl acetate, and phenylethyl alcohol were higher in fermented agrowaste based media compared to the control.

Thermotolerant and mesophylic fungi from sugarcane bagasse and their prospection for biomass-degrading enzyme production

Nineteen fungi and seven yeast strains were isolated from sugarcane bagasse piles from an alcohol plant located at Brazilian Cerrado and identified up to species level on the basis of the gene sequencing of 5.8S-ITS and 26S ribosomal DNA regions. Four species were identified: Kluyveromyces marxianus, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus sydowii and Aspergillus fumigatus, and the isolates were screened for the production of key enzymes in the saccharification of lignocellulosic material. Among them, three strains were selected as good producers of hemicellulolitic enzymes: A. niger (SBCM3), A. sydowii (SBCM7) and A. fumigatus (SBC4). The best β-xylosidase producer was A. niger SBCM3 strain. This crude enzyme presented optimal activity at pH 3.5 and 55 °C (141 U/g). For β-glucosidase and xylanase the best producer was A. fumigatus SBC4 strain, whose enzymes presented maximum activity at 60 °C and pH 3.5 (54 U/g) and 4.0 (573 U/g), respectively. All these crude enzymes presented stability around pH 3.0–8.0 and up to 60 °C, which can be very useful in industrial processes that work at high temperatures and low pHs. These enzymes also exhibited moderate tolerance to ethanol and the sugars glucose and xylose. These similar characteristics among these fungal crude enzymes suggest that they can be used synergistically in cocktails in future studies of biomass conversion with potential application in several biotechnological sectors.

Hypocholesterolemic effects of Kluyveromyces marxianus M3 isolated from Tibetan mushrooms on diet-induced hypercholesterolemia in rat

To investigate the effects of Kluyveromyces marxianus M3 isolated from Tibetan mushrooms on diet-induced hypercholesterolemia in rats, female Wistar rats were fed a high-cholesterol diet (HCD) for 28 d to generate hyperlipidemic models. Hyperlipidemic rats were assigned to four groups, which were individually treated with three different dosages of K. marxianus M3+HCD or physiological saline+HCD via oral gavage for 28 d. The total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels in the serum and liver of the rats were measured using commercially available enzyme kits. In addition, the liver morphology was also examined using hematoxylin and eosin staining and optical microscopy. According to our results, the serum and liver TC, TG, LDL-C levels and atherogenic index (AI) were significantly decreased in rats orally administered K. marxianus M3 (p <0.01), and the HDL-C levels and anti atherogenic index (AAI) were significantly increased (p <0.01) compared to the control group. Moreover, K. marxianus M3 treatment also reduced the build-up of lipid droplets in the liver and exhibited normal hepatocytes, suggesting a protective effect of K. marxianus M3 in hyperlipidemic rats.

Enzyme activity of ß-galactosidase from Kluyveromyces lactis and Aspergillus oryzae on simulated conditions of human gastrointestinal system / Atividade de ß-galactosidase de Kluyveromyces lactis e Aspergillus oryzae, em condições simuladas do sistema gastrintestinal humano

An alternative to relieve the symptoms of lactose intolerance is the intake of the enzyme ?-galactosidase in pharmaceutical dosage forms. The ability of ?-galactosidase produced by Kluyveromyces lactis and Aspergillus oryzae to hydrolyze lactose in simulated conditions of the human gastrointestinal tract was investigated. The experiment was carried out in the optimum temperature for each enzyme activity, 40 and 55°C, respectively, and at the normal human body temperature (37°C) at concentrations of 1.5, 3.0, and 5.0 g/L (enzyme from A. oryzae) or mL/L (enzyme from K. lactis). Both enzymes were completely inactivated under simulated gastric conditions (pH 2). When the enzymes were subjected to simulated small intestine conditions (pH 7.4), lactose hydrolysis has occurred, but at 37°C the percentage was lower than that under the optimal temperatures. At concentrations of 1.5, 3.0, and 5.0 mL/L the enzyme from K. lactis hydrolyzed 76.63%, 88.91% and 94.80% of lactose at 40°C, and 55.99%, 80.91% and 81.53% at 37°C, respectively. In contrast, the enzyme from A. oryzae hydrolyzed 7.11%, 16.18% and 21.29% at 55°C, and 8.4%, 11.85% and 16.43% at 37°C. It was observed that under simulated intestinal conditions, the enzyme from K. lactis was more effective on lactose hydrolysis as compared to the enzyme from A. oryzae. Considering the findings of this study, it is extremely necessary to use an enteric coating on ?-galactosidase capsules so that this enzyme is released only in the small intestine, which is its site of action, thus not suffering the action of the stomach pH.(AU)

Uma das alternativas para amenizar os sintomas da intolerância à lactose é a ingestão de ?-galactosidase em formas farmacêuticas. Neste trabalho avaliou-se a capacidade de hidrólise de ?-galactosidase produzida por Kluyveromyces lactis e Aspergillus oryzae simulando as condições do trato gastrintestinal humano. O teste foi realizado nas temperaturas ótimas de ação para cada enzima, 40 e 55°C, respectivamente, e na temperatura corpórea humana (37°C), nas concentrações de 1,5; 3,0 e 5,0 g/L para a enzima de Aspergillus oryzae ou mL/L para a de Kluyveromyces lactis. Na simulação da condição estomacal humana (pH 2), ambas enzimas foram totalmente inativadas. Quando as enzimas foram submetidas às condições simuladas do intestino delgado (pH 7,4), observou-se hidrólise da lactose, porém, a 37°C, a porcentagem foi menor do que a observada nas temperaturas ótimas de cada enzima. A enzima de K. lactis nas concentrações de 1,5; 3,0 e 5,0 mL/L apresentou hidrólise de 76,63%, 88,91% e 94,80% a 40°C e 55,99%, 80,91% e 81,53%, a 37°C, respectivamente. Nas concentrações 1,5; 3,0 e 5,0 g/L, a porcentagem de hidrólise pela enzima de A. oryzae a 55°C foi de 7,11%, 16,18% e 21,29%. Para esta enzima, nessas concentrações, a hidrólise obtida a 37°C foi 8,4%, 11,85% e de 16,43%. Sob condições intestinais simuladas, a enzima de K. lactis apresentou maior eficiência na hidrólise da lactose quando comparada à enzima de A. oryzae. Considerando-se as etapas avaliadas neste estudo, observa-se que é extremamente necessário o uso de um revestimento entérico em cápsulas de ?-galactosidase, para que esta enzima seja liberada somente no intestino delgado, seu local de ação, não sofrendo, portanto, a ação do pH estomacal.(AU)

Feasibility of biohydrogen production from industrial wastes using defined microbial co-culture

BACKGROUND: The development of clean or novel alternative energy has become a global trend that will shape the future of energy. In the present study, 3 microbial strains with different oxygen requirements, including Clostridium acetobutylicum ATCC 824, Enterobacter cloacae ATCC 13047 and Kluyveromyces marxianus 15D, were used to construct a hydrogen production system that was composed of a mixed aerobic-facultative anaerobic-anaerobic consortium. The effects of metal ions, organic acids and carbohydrate substrates on this system were analyzed and compared using electrochemical and kinetic assays. It was then tested using small-scale experiments to evaluate its ability to convert starch in 5 L of organic wastewater into hydrogen. For the one-step biohydrogen production experiment, H1 medium (nutrient broth and potato dextrose broth) was mixed directly with GAM broth to generate H2 medium (H1 medium and GAM broth). Finally, Clostridium acetobutylicum ATCC 824, Enterobacter cloacae ATCC 13047 and Kluyveromyces marxianus 15D of three species microbial co-culture to produce hydrogen under anaerobic conditions. For the two-step biohydrogen production experiment, the H1 medium, after cultured the microbial strains Enterobacter cloacae ATCC 13047 and Kluyveromyces marxianus 15D, was centrifuged to remove the microbial cells and then mixed with GAM broth (H2 medium). Afterward, the bacterial strain Clostridium acetobutylicum ATCC 824 was inoculated into the H2 medium to produce hydrogen by anaerobic fermentation. RESULTS: The experimental results demonstrated that the optimum conditions for the small-scale fermentative hydrogen production system were at pH 7.0, 35°C, a mixed medium, including H1 medium and H2 medium with 0.50 mol/L ferrous chloride, 0.50 mol/L magnesium sulfate, 0.50 mol/L potassium chloride, 1% w/v citric acid, 5% w/v fructose and 5% w/v glucose. The overall hydrogen production efficiency in the shake flask fermentation group was 33.7 mL/h-1.L-1, and those the two-step and the one-step processes of the small-scale fermentative hydrogen production system were 41.2 mLVh-1.L-1 and 35.1 mL/h-1.L-1, respectively. CONCLUSION: Therefore, the results indicate that the hydrogen production efficiency of the two-step process is higher than that of the one-step process.

Heterologous expression, purification and characterization of exo-inulinase from Kluyveromyces marxianus YX01 / 生物工程学报

To improve the inulinase application in biotechnology, the characteristic of inulinase from Kluyveromyces marxianus YX01 was investigated. The inu gene of K. marxianus YX01 was transformed into Pichiapastoris GS115 host cells with molecular biology techniques. Then we achieved the heterologous expression of exo-inulinase whose molecular mass was about 86.0 kDa by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Furthermore, six His-tag was added to the inulinase and a two-step method was applied in the purification of inulinase, including concentration via dialysis by polyethylene glycol 20 000 and metal Ni-NTA Agarose affinity adsorption. The purification factor of purified protein was 3.6 and the recovery rate of enzyme activity was 33.1%. We characterized the purified inulinase. The optimum temperature was 60 degrees C and pH was 4.62. When inulin and sucrose were used as substrates, the K(m) and V(max) values were 80.53 g/L vs 4.49 g/(L x min) and 183.10 g/L vs 20.20 g/(L x min), respectively. In addition, metal ions including Mn2+, Ca2+, Cu2+, Zn2+ and Fe2+ exhibited different degrees of inhibition on the enzyme activity, and Cu2+, Zn2+ and Fe2+ exhibited the most significant inhibition. Our findings might lay a good foundation for industrial application of inulinase.

Whole cells in enantioselective reduction of benzyl acetoacetate

The β-ketoester benzyl acetoacetate was enantioselectively reduced to benzyl (S)-3-hydroxybutanoate by seven microorganism species. The best result using free cells was obtained with the yeast Hansenula sp., which furnished 97% ee and 85% of conversion within 24 h. After immobilization in calcium alginate spheres, K.marxianus showed to be more stable after 2 cycles of reaction.

Recombinant Kluyveromyces lactis expressing highly pathogenic porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus GP5 elicits mucosal and cell-mediated immune responses in mice

Currently, killed-virus and modified-live porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) vaccines are used to control porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome. However, both types of vaccines have inherent drawbacks; accordingly, the development of novel PRRSV vaccines is urgently needed. Previous studies have suggested that yeast possesses adjuvant activities, and it has been used as an expression vehicle to elicit immune responses to foreign antigens. In this report, recombinant Kluyveromyces lactis expressing GP5 of HP-PRRSV (Yeast-GP5) was generated and immune responses to this construct were analyzed in mice. Intestinal mucosal PRRSV-specific sIgA antibody and higher levels of IFN-gamma in spleen CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were induced by oral administration of Yeast-GP5. Additionally, Yeast-GP5 administered subcutaneously evoked vigorous cell-mediated immunity, and PRRSV-specific lymphocyte proliferation and IFN-gamma secretion were detected in the splenocytes of mice. These results suggest that Yeast-GP5 has the potential for use as a vaccine for PRRSV in the future.

Statistical investigation of Kluyveromyces lactis cells permeabilization with ethanol by response surface methodology

The aim of our study was to select the optimal operating conditions to permeabilize Kluyveromyces lactis cells using ethanol as a solvent as an alternative to cell disruption and extraction. Cell permeabilization was carried out by a non-mechanical method consisting of chemical treatment with ethanol, and the results were expressed as β-galactosidase activity. Experiments were conducted under different conditions of ethanol concentration, treatment time and temperature according to a central composite rotatable design (CCRD), and the collected results were then worked out by response surface methodology (RSM). Cell permeabilization was improved by an increase in ethanol concentration and simultaneous decreases in the incubation temperature and treatment time. Such an approach allowed us to identify an optimal range of the independent variables within which the β-galactosidase activity was optimized. A maximum permeabilization of 2,816 mmol L-1 oNP min-1 g-1 was obtained by treating cells with 75.0% v/v of ethanol at 20.0 °C for 15.0 min. The proposed methodology resulted to be effective and suited for K. lactis cells permeabilization at a lab-scale and promises to be of possible interest for future applications mainly in the food industry.

Effect of aeration and inulin concentration on ethanol production by Kluyveromyces marxinaus YX01 / 生物工程学报

Consolidated bioprocessing technology can be used for Kluyveromyces marxianus YX01 to produce ethanol from Jerusalem artichoke, which is one of the potential processes to produce biofuel from non-cereal crops. In this study, we combined the aeration rate with the substrate concentration to conduct cross-over experiments for K. marxinaus YX01, and studied ethanol fermentation and the influence of inulin enzyme activity. The substrate concentration had a little repressive effect on ethanol productivity. When substrate concentration reached 250 g/L under anaerobic conditions, ethanol concentration was 84.8 g/L, and ethanol yield was reduced from 86.4% (50 g/L substrate concentration) to 84.7% of the theoretical value. Aeration rate could accelerate K. marxinaus YX01 ethanol fermentation, but reduced ethanol yield. When substrate concentration reached 250 g/L under aeration at 1.0 vvm, ethanol yield was reduced from 84.7% under anaerobic conditions to 73.3% of the theoretical value. With increased concentration of the carbon source and reduced aeration rate, the inulinase of K. marxinaus YX01 reduced and the concentration of glycerol increased, however, the acetic acid increased with the increased concentration of the carbon source and aeration rate. When substrate concentration reached 250 g/L under anaerobic conditions, inulinase activity was only 6.59 U/mL; when substrate concentration reached 50 g/L under aeration at 1.0 vvm, inulinase activity was 21.54 U/mL.

Production of inulinase from Kluyveromyces marxianus using Dahlia tuber extract

Various carbon sources were evaluated for production of inulinase by yeast, Kluyveromyces marxianus MTCC 3995. Highest inulinase activity was observed with Dahlia extract (25.3 nkat mL-1) as carbon source. The enzyme activity was 1.4 folds higher than that observed in media containing pure chicory inulin (17.8 nkat mL-1). The yeast showed good growth on a simple medium containing dahlia extract (20% w/v) and yeast extract (2%w/v) as carbon and nitrogen source respectively, in 96 h. at 28°C and 120 rpm. Lowest inulinase yield (4.8 nkat mL-1) was seen in the medium containing glucose as C-source. Although varied inulinase levels were noticed on different C- sources, Inulinase: Sucrase (I/S) ratios were noticed to be similar. Among various protein sources tested, yeast extract was found to be the best source followed by beef extract (17.9 nkat mL-1) and peptone (13.8 nkat mL-1). The enzyme was optimally active at pH (4.0) and 50°C. TLC analysis of end product revealed that inulinase hydrolyzed inulin exclusively into fructose. Results suggest that the dahlia extract induced exoinulinase synthesis in Kluyveromyces marxianus and can be utilized as a potential substrate for inulinase production.

Kluyveromyces aestuarii, a potential environmental quality indicator yeast for mangroves in the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Kluyveromyces aestuarii was found in sediments from 7 of 8 mangroves in Rio de Janeiro; and absent only at one site with heavy plastic bag pollution. Its presence suggests influence in other habitats from a mangrove and its absence in a mangrove suggests some non-fecal pollution or other habitat alteration.

Ethanol fermentation from Jerusalem artichoke tubers by a genetically-modified Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain capable of secreting inulinase / 生物工程学报

Ethanol fermentation from Jerusalem artichoke tubers by recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains expressing the inulinase gene (inu) from Kluyveromyces marxianus was investigated. The inu native and pgk promoters were used to drive the expression of the inu gene, and the inulinase was expressed as an extracellular enzyme. All positive clones (confirmed by PCR) were able to express inulinase as measured by enzyme activity in the culture supernatant, among which two clones HI6/6 and HPI6/3 were selected, and their inulinase activity and ethanol fermentation performance were compared with their wild type. The inulinase activities of 86 and 23.8 U/mL were achieved, which were 4.6-fold and 1.5-fold higher than that of the wild type. Furthermore, ethanol fermentation was carried out with the recombinants and medium containing 200 g/L raw Jerusalem artichoke meal, and ethanol concentrations of 55 g/L and 52 g/L were obtained, with ethanol yields of 0.495 and 0.453, respectively, equivalent to 96.9% and 88.6% of the theoretical value.