| abstract |
The invention provides polypeptides having a lignocellulolytic activity, e.g., a glycosyl hydrolase, a cellulase, an endoglucanase, a cellobiohydrolase, a beta- glucosidase, a xylanase, a mannanse, a xylosidase (e.g., a β- xylosidase), an arabinofuranosidase, and/or a glucose oxidase activity, polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides, and methods of making and using these polynucleotides and polypeptides. In one aspect, the invention provides polypeptides that can enzymatically process (hydrolyze) sugarcane bagasse, i.e., for sugarcane bagasse degradation, or for biomass processing, and polynucleotides encoding these enzymes, and making and using these polynucleotides and polypeptides. In one embodiment, the invention provides thermostable and thermotolerant forms of polypeptides of the invention. The polypeptides of the invention can be used in a variety of pharmaceutical, agricultural and industrial contexts; for example, the invention provides a multi-enzyme system that can hydrolyze polysaccharides in a bagasse component of sugarcane processed in sugar mills. The invention provides enzymes for the bioconversion of lignocellulosic residues into fermentable sugars; and these sugars can be used as a chemical feedstock for the production of ethanol and fuels, including biofuels such as bioethanol, biopropanol, biobutanol and biodiesels. |