ABSTRACT
The implementation of consolidated bioprocessing for converting starch to ethanol relies on a robust yeast that produces enough amylases for rapid starch hydrolysis. Furthermore, using low-cost substrates will assist with competitive ethanol prices and support a bioeconomy, especially in developing countries. This paper addresses both challenges with the expression of additional glucoamylase gene copies in an efficient amylolytic strain (Saccharomyces cerevisiae ER T12) derived from the industrial yeast, Ethanol Red™. Recombinant ER T12 was used as a host to increase ethanol productivity during raw starch fermentation; the ER T12.7 variant, selected from various transformants, displayed enhanced raw starch conversion and a 36% higher ethanol concentration than the parental strain after 120 h. Unripe rice, rice bran, potato waste and potato peels were evaluated as alternative starchy substrates to test ER T12.7's fermenting ability. ER T12.7 produced high ethanol yields at significantly improved ethanol productivity, key criteria for its industrial application.
