木酮糖激酶表达水平对酿酒酵母木糖代谢产物流向的影响

在酿酒酵母中分别引入真菌和细菌的木糖代谢关键酶,木糖还原酶基因XYL1、木糖醇脱氢酶基因XYL2和木糖异构酶基因xylA. 并在此基础上以共转化策略超表达下游关键酶木酮糖激酶基因XKS1. 与亲本菌株相比,用pMA91和YEp24质粒表达XKS1的重组菌株,木酮糖激酶（xylulokinase,XK）活性分别提高了14和6.7倍. 在限氧条件下,重组菌株对木糖和葡萄糖的共发酵结果显示,表达XYL1,XYL2以及XKS1的重组菌株HSXY-251木糖消耗为12.4 g/L,提高了120.9%,乙醇产量达到9.4 g/L,提高了36%,副产物木糖醇产量为0.7 g/L,下降了84.9%.     

利用不同启动子控制木糖代谢关键酶基因构建可共代谢葡萄糖木糖重组酿酒酵母

利用不同强度的启动子调控木糖代谢关键酶活性,构建稳定代谢葡萄糖和木糖产乙醇的重组酿酒酵母。以本实验室专利菌株Saccharomyces cerevisiae Y5为宿主菌,将树干毕赤酵母Pichia stipitis CBS6054的木糖还原酶基因XYL1和木糖醇脱氢酶基因XYL2置于磷酸甘油酸激酶基因启动子(PGKp)控制下,酿酒酵母Y5内源的木酮糖激酶基因XKS1分别由己糖激酶基因启动子(HXK2p)及其内源启动子(XKS1p)控制。这3个基因连同各自表达元件导入宿主细胞中,打通其木糖上游代谢途径。酶活测定结果显示,HXK2p对木酮糖激酶表现出更强的启动效率。重组菌Y5-X3-1中木糖还原酶/木糖醇脱氢酶/木酮糖激酶(XR/XDH/XK)的酶活比值为1∶5∶4,其木糖消耗量是宿主菌的5倍,最高乙醇产量为24.35 g/L,达到理论值的73%。结果表明,通过调节XYL1、XYL2及XKS1启动子的强度,调控其表达水平,进而改变3种酶的活性水平,对于提高重组酿酒酵母利用木糖发酵产乙醇有明显效果。     

混合糖发酵重组酿酒酵母的菌株构建和菊芋秸秆同步糖化发酵研究

【目的】构建可用于纤维素乙醇高效生产的混合糖发酵重组酿酒酵母菌株,并利用菊芋秸秆为原料进行乙醇发酵。【方法】筛选在木糖中生长较好的酿酒酵母YB-2625作为宿主菌,构建木糖共代谢菌株YB-2625 CCX。进一步通过r DNA位点多拷贝整合的方式,以YB-2625 CCX为出发菌株构建木糖脱氢酶过表达菌株,并筛选得到优势菌株YB-73。采用同步糖化发酵策略研究YB-73的菊芋秸秆发酵性能。【结果】YB-73菌株以90 g/L葡萄糖和30 g/L木糖为碳源进行混合糖发酵,乙醇产量比出发菌株YB-2625 CCX提高了13.9%,副产物木糖醇产率由0.89 g/g降低至0.31 g/g,下降了64.6%。利用重组菌YB-73对菊芋秸秆进行同步糖化发酵,48 h最高乙醇浓度达到6.10%(体积比)。【结论】通过转入木糖代谢途径以及r DNA位点多拷贝整合过表达木糖脱氢酶基因可有效提高菌株木糖发酵性能,并用于菊芋秸秆的纤维素乙醇生产。这是首次报道利用重组酿酒酵母进行菊芋秸秆原料的纤维素乙醇发酵。     

不同宿主来源的重组酿酒酵母混合糖代谢比较

【目的】研究不同工业酿酒酵母宿主背景对重组酵母木糖利用效率的影响。【方法】将木糖利用途径的木糖还原酶(XR)、木糖醇脱氢酶(XDH)和木酮糖激酶(XK)编码基因串联后分别转入3株不同的工业酿酒酵母中,得到重组酵母ZQ1、ZQ5和ZQ7。分别对3个木糖途径代谢基因的表达水平、酶活和重组菌株的木糖发酵效率进行比较。【结果】重组菌株在木糖代谢基因转录、酶活性和木糖利用性能方面有很大差异,其中ZQ5木糖代谢能力最强,ZQ7其次,ZQ1木糖利用能力最弱。ZQ7在初始木糖浓度为20 g/L时木糖利用速率快于ZQ5,表明木糖浓度对重组菌发酵性能评价具有影响。【结论】不同菌株的遗传背景和木糖浓度对重组菌木糖利用的影响很大,评价重组酵母的木糖利用需考虑宿主的遗传背景和底物浓度的影响。     

多质粒共转化组合筛选方法构建木糖利用酿酒酵母的研究

快速得到目标代谢路径相关基因的大量组合以及实现组合库的高效筛选,是合成生物学领域中一个重要的研究内容。建立了三质粒共转化酵母菌株组合筛选方法并以XR-XDH木糖代谢路径在酿酒酵母中的应用为例进行阐释。首先利用Yeast Golden Gate连接法在三种不同表达载体上构建不同启动子控制下的XR、XDH、XK单个基因的表达盒,然后直接用三质粒共转化系统构建100种不同组合的重组酵母。经过木糖平板初筛筛选出16个能利用木糖的组合,将这16个组合对应的三基因表达模块组装至同一表达载体后转化底盘菌株,再通过限氧发酵进行复筛,最终筛选出木糖代谢能力、木糖醇和乙醇生成速率最优菌株Sc-LQH35（TDH3p-XR-ACS2t-FBA1p-XDH-ENO2t-PDC1p-XK-ASC1t）,在培养基中含有20 g/L木糖的条件下,其木糖醇产量为7.14 g/L,乙醇产量为5.92 g/L,而菌株Sc-LQH39（TDH3p-XR-ACS2t-FBA1p-XDH-ENO2t-ZEO1p-XK-ASC1t）则表现出较强的木糖醇生产能力,特别在限氧发酵时,其木糖醇得率可高达0.71 g/g。三质粒共转化组合筛选方法实现了木糖利用菌株的灵活构建和快速筛选,并成功得到具有优良木糖利用性能的酿酒酵母菌株,表明其在重组菌株的构建和筛选工作中有一定的应用价值。     

一种基因工程改造的NADH高亲和力木糖还原酶突变基因可促进酿酒酵母发酵木糖生成乙醇

在导入表达毕赤酵母(Pichia stipitis)木糖还原酶(xylose reductase,XR)和木糖醇脱氢酶(xylitol dehydrogenase,XDH)基因的重组酿酒酵母中,木糖还原酶活性主要依赖辅酶NADPH,木糖醇脱氢酶活性依赖辅酶 NAD+,两者的辅助因子不同导致细胞内电子氧化还原的不平衡,是造成木糖醇积累,影响木糖代谢和乙醇产量的主要原因之一.将经过基因工程改造获得的NADH高亲和力的木糖还原酶突变基因m1,与毕赤酵母木糖醇脱氢酶(PsXDH)基因xyl2共转染酿酒酵母AH109,以转染毕赤酵母木糖还原酶(PsXR)基因xyl1和xyl2重组质粒的酵母细胞为对照菌株,在SC/-Leu/-Trp营养缺陷型培养基中进行筛选,获得的阳性转化子分别命名为AH-M-XDH和AH-XR-XDH.重组酵母在限制氧通气条件下对木糖和葡萄糖进行共发酵摇瓶培养,HPLC检测发酵底物的消耗和代谢产物的产出情况.结果显示,与对照菌株AH-XR-XDH相比,AH-M-XDH的木糖利用率明显提高,乙醇得率增加了16%,木糖醇产生下降了41.4%.结果证实,通过基因工程改造的木糖代谢关键酶,可用于酿酒酵母发酵木糖生产乙醇,其能通过改善酿酒酵母细胞内氧化还原失衡的问题,提高木糖利用率和乙醇产率.     

嗜热细菌木糖异构酶基因xylA在酿酒酵母中的高效表达

采用PCR技术克隆得到嗜热细菌Clostridium thermohydrosulfuricum木糖异构酶(xylose isomerase XI)基因xylA,将该基因连接于酵母表达载体pMA91的磷酸甘油激酶(PGK)启动子下,得到重组质粒pBX1。通过LiAc完整细胞转化法将重组质粒转移至酿酒酵母(Saccharomyces cerevisiae)H158受体菌中,得到重组酵母转化子H612,酶活测定结果表明,成功地在酿酒酵母中得到木糖异构酶的活性表达。SDSPAGE电泳结果显示出明显的特异性表达产物带,单体分子量为43kD。由酿酒酵母重组子H612产生的木糖异构酶最高酶活条件与其在自然状态下的一致,均为85℃,pH70,在这一条件下酶的比活力为10U/mg蛋白,而在接近酵母最适生长温度的30℃和40℃时,其相对酶活分别下降37%和11%。研究结果显示在酿酒酵母中得到木糖异构酶的活性表达,为进一步在酿酒酵母菌中建立新的木糖代谢途径打下了基础。     

不同启动子控制下木酮糖激酶的差异表达及其对酿酒酵母木糖代谢的影响

[目的]以不同强度的启动子控制表达木酮糖激酶基因,并研究其引起的不同木酮糖激酶活性水平对木糖利用酿酒酵母(Saccharomyces cerevisiae)代谢流向的影响.[方法]以酿酒酵母CEN.PK 113-5D为出发菌株,选择酿酒酵母内源启动子TEF1p,PGK1p和HXK2p,利用Cre-loxP无标记同源重组系统,置换染色体上木酮糖激酶基因XKS1的启动子(XKS1p)序列;并通过附加体质粒引入木糖代谢上游途径,构建不同水平表达木酮糖激酶的木糖利用工程菌株;从木酮糖激酶的转录水平、酶活水平、胞内的ATP浓度及木糖代谢等性状,对各菌株进行评价.[结果]转录及酶活测定结果显示,与天然状态相比,所选择的启动子对木酮糖激酶均表现出更强的启动效率.菌株体内表达木酮糖激酶活性水平由高至低的顺序为其基因XKS1在启动子PGK1p、TEF1p、HXK2p和XKS1p控制下.随着木酮糖激酶的活性的提高,胞内的ATP水平下降,而转化木糖生成乙醇的能力上升.最高乙醇产率为0.35g/g消耗的总糖,此时副产物木糖醇产率最低,为0.18g/g消耗的木糖.[结论]通过在染色体上置换启动子,提高了木酮糖激酶的表达水平.在一定范围内,木酮糖激酶的高活性有利于木糖向乙醇的转化.     

木糖异构酶在酿酒酵母表面表达及对木糖代谢影响的初步研究

利用α-型酿酒酵母(Saccharomyces cerevisiae)表面展示系统的载体,将来源于嗜热细菌Thermus thermophilus的木糖异构酶基因xylA,插入到酿酒酵母蔗糖酶信号肽序列与α-凝集素的C端编码序列之间,形成融合表达框,构建重组质粒pSY-xy222,转化酿酒酵母H158。含重组质粒的菌株H158-SXI木糖异构酶活性测定表明,细胞壁上酶活测定值为1.53 U,木糖异构酶在酿酒酵母细胞壁上得到活性表达。木糖葡萄糖共发酵结果显示,重组菌株木糖利用率较出发菌株提高了17.8%。     

spt15突变基因对酿酒酵母木糖利用的影响

利用基因工程手段得到重组菌YPH499-3中的spt15有效突变基因,通过表达载体pYX212转化入酿酒酵母原始菌株YPH499中,重新获得酿酒酵母重组菌株。对其性状进行研究,结果表明该菌株能有效利用木糖并共发酵木糖和葡萄糖。在30oC、200r/min,发酵72h时,50g/L木糖的利用率为82.0%,乙醇产率为28.4%;当木糖和葡萄糖以质量比1:1混合发酵时,木糖和葡萄糖的利用率分别为80.4%和100%,乙醇产率为31.4%;同时发现木糖醇的含量极低。从而验证了有效突变基因spt15-10对酿酒酵母共发酵木糖和葡萄糖产酒精的影响。     

Establishment of a xylose metabolic pathway in an industrial strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

To produce an industrial strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae that metabolizes xylose, we constructed a rDNA integration vector and YIp integration vector, containing the xylose-utilizing genes, XYL1 and XYL2, which encode xylose reductase (XR) and xylitol dehydrogenase (XDH) from Pichia stipitis, and XKS1, which encodes xylulokinase (XK) from S. cerevisiae, with the G418 resistance gene KanMX as a dominant selectable marker. The rDNA results in integration of multiple copies of the target genes. The industrial stain of S. cerevisiae NAN-27 was transformed with the two integration vectors to produce two recombinant strains, S. cerevisiae NAN-127 and NAN-123. Upon transformation, multiple copies of the xylose-utilizing genes were integrated into the genome rDNA locus of S. cerevisiae. Strain NAN-127 consumed twice as much xylose and produced 39% more ethanol than the parent strain, while NAN-123 consumed 10% more xylose and produced 10% more ethanol than the parent strain over 94 h.     

Simultaneous saccharification and fermentation of acid-pretreated corncobs with a recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae expressing beta-glucosidase

To reduce the cellobiose inhibition of exoglucanase and endogulcanase and enhance cellulose hydrolysis during simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF), a beta-glucosidase encoding gene named BGL1 was cloned from Saccharomycopsis fibuligera and integrated into the chromosomal rDNA region of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae industrial strain NAN-27 producing NAN-227. Compared with the parental strain, which had no detectable activity, the beta-glucosidase specific activity in NAN-227 was 1.02 IU/mg of protein. When cellobiose was used as the sole carbon source in a shake-flask, NAN-227 consumed 6.2g/L of cellobiose and produced 3.3g/L of ethanol in 48 h. The yield was 0.532 g/g. The parent strain only consumed 1.92 g/L of cellobiose and no ethanol was detected. During the SSF of acid-pretreated corncobs NAN-227 produced 20 g/L of ethanol at 72 h, which was similar to the parent strain when 20IU of beta-glucosidase/g of substrate was added.     

Deletion of the GRE3 aldose reductase gene and its influence on xylose metabolism in recombinant strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae expressing the xylA and XKS1 genes.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae ferments hexoses efficiently but is unable to ferment xylose. When the bacterial enzyme xylose isomerase (XI) from Thermus thermophilus was produced in S. cerevisiae, xylose utilization and ethanol formation were demonstrated. In addition, xylitol and acetate were formed. An unspecific aldose reductase (AR) capable of reducing xylose to xylitol has been identified in S. cerevisiae. The GRE3 gene, encoding the AR enzyme, was deleted in S. cerevisiae CEN.PK2-1C, yielding YUSM1009a. XI from T. thermophilus was produced, and endogenous xylulokinase from S. cerevisiae was overproduced in S. cerevisiae CEN.PK2-1C and YUSM1009a. In recombinant strains from which the GRE3 gene was deleted, xylitol formation decreased twofold. Deletion of the GRE3 gene combined with expression of the xylA gene from T. thermophilus on a replicative plasmid generated recombinant xylose utilizing S. cerevisiae strain TMB3102, which produced ethanol from xylose with a yield of 0.28 mmol of C from ethanol/mmol of C from xylose. None of the recombinant strains grew on xylose.     

带有木糖还原酶基因和木糖醇脱氢酶基因的重组酿酒酵母的构建

采用双载体系统,将携带有瑞氏木霉木糖醇脱氢酶基因的表达质粒pAJ401－Xdh1转化已带有树干毕赤氏酵母木糖还原酶基因的重组酿酒酵母H475,构建了同时带有毕赤氏酵母木糖还原酶基因和瑞氏木霉木糖醇脱氢酶基因的重组酿酒酵母HX1。研究了重组酿酒酵母HX1对木糖的转化利用情况。     

An improved method of xylose utilization by recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The aim of this study was to develop a method to optimize expression levels of xylose-metabolizing enzymes to improve xylose utilization capacity of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. A xylose-utilizing recombinant S. cerevisiae strain YY2KL, able to express nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate, reduced (NADPH)-dependent xylose reductase (XR), nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD(+))-dependent xylitol dehydrogenase (XDH), and xylulokinase (XK), showed a low ethanol yield and sugar consumption rate. To optimize xylose utilization by YY2KL, a recombinant expression plasmid containing the XR gene was transformed and integrated into the aur1 site of YY2KL. Two recombinant expression plasmids containing an nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP(+))-dependent XDH mutant and XK genes were dually transformed and integrated into the 5S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sites of YY2KL. This procedure allowed systematic construction of an S. cerevisiae library with different ratios of genes for xylose-metabolizing enzymes, and well-grown colonies with different xylose fermentation capacities could be further selected in yeast protein extract (YPX) medium (1?% yeast extract, 2?% peptone, and 2?% xylose). We successfully isolated a recombinant strain with a superior xylose fermentation capacity and designated it as strain YY5A. The xylose consumption rate for strain YY5A was estimated to be 2.32?g/gDCW/h (g xylose/g dry cell weight/h), which was 2.34 times higher than that for the parent strain YY2KL (0.99?g/gDCW/h). The ethanol yield was also enhanced 1.83 times by this novel method. Optimal ratio and expression levels of xylose-metabolizing enzymes are important for efficient conversion of xylose to ethanol. This study provides a novel method that allows rapid and effective selection of ratio-optimized xylose-utilizing yeast strains. This method may be applicable to other multienzyme systems in yeast.     

Effects of NADH-preferring xylose reductase expression on ethanol production from xylose in xylose-metabolizing recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Efficient conversion of xylose to ethanol is an essential factor for commercialization of lignocellulosic ethanol. To minimize production of xylitol, a major by-product in xylose metabolism and concomitantly improve ethanol production, Saccharomyces cerevisiae D452-2 was engineered to overexpress NADH-preferable xylose reductase mutant (XR(MUT)) and NAD?-dependent xylitol dehydrogenase (XDH) from Pichia stipitis and endogenous xylulokinase (XK). In vitro enzyme assay confirmed the functional expression of XR(MUT), XDH and XK in recombinant S. cerevisiae strains. The change of wild type XR to XR(MUT) along with XK overexpression led to reduction of xylitol accumulation in microaerobic culture. More modulation of the xylose metabolism including overexpression of XR(MUT) and transaldolase, and disruption of the chromosomal ALD6 gene encoding aldehyde dehydrogenase (SX6(MUT)) improved the performance of ethanol production from xylose remarkably. Finally, oxygen-limited fermentation of S. cerevisiae SX6(MUT) resulted in 0.64 g l?1 h?1 xylose consumption rate, 0.25 g l?1 h?1 ethanol productivity and 39% ethanol yield based on the xylose consumed, which were 1.8, 4.2 and 2.2 times higher than the corresponding values of recombinant S. cerevisiae expressing XR(MUT), XDH and XK only.     

Optimal growth and ethanol production from xylose by recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae require moderate D-xylulokinase activity

D-Xylulokinase (XK) is essential for the metabolism of D-xylose in yeasts. However, overexpression of genes for XK, such as the Pichia stipitis XYL3 gene and the Saccharomyces cerevisiae XKS gene, can inhibit growth of S. cerevisiae on xylose. We varied the copy number and promoter strength of XYL3 or XKS1 to see how XK activity can affect xylose metabolism in S. cerevisiae. The S. cerevisiae genetic background included single integrated copies of P. stipitis XYL1 and XYL2 driven by the S. cerevisiae TDH1 promoter. Multicopy and single-copy constructs with either XYL3 or XKS1, likewise under control of the TDH1 promoter, or with the native P. stipitis promoter were introduced into the recombinant S. cerevisiae. In vitro enzymatic activity of XK increased with copy number and promoter strength. Overexpression of XYL3 and XKS1 inhibited growth on xylose but did not affect growth on glucose even though XK activities were three times higher in glucose-grown cells. Growth inhibition increased and ethanol yields from xylose decreased with increasing XK activity. Uncontrolled XK expression in recombinant S. cerevisiae is inhibitory in a manner analogous to the substrate-accelerated cell death observed with an S. cerevisiae tps1 mutant during glucose metabolism. To bypass this effect, we transformed cells with a tunable expression vector containing XYL3 under the control of its native promoter into the FPL-YS1020 strain and screened the transformants for growth on, and ethanol production from, xylose. The selected transformant had approximately four copies of XYL3 per haploid genome and had moderate XK activity. It converted xylose into ethanol efficiently.     

Expression of bacterial xylose isomerase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae under galactose supplemented condition

We constructed recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae harboring the xylose isomerase (XI) gene isolated from Clostridium phytofermentans to metabolize xylose and use it as a carbon and energy source. In this study, the effect of supplementation using co-substrate such as glucose or galactose on xylose utilization was studied in recombinant S. cerevisiae. Glucose, which is transported with high affinity by the same transport system as is xylose, was not affected by the heterologous expression of XI, thus xylose utilization was not observed in recombinant S. cerevisiae. However, supplemental galactose added to the recombinant S. cerevisiae stimulated xylose utilization as well as the expression of XI protein. Recombinant S. cerevisiae consumed up to 23.48 g/L of xylose when grown in media containing 40 g/L of xylose and supplemented with 20 g/L of galactose. These cells also produced 15.89 g/L of ethanol. Therefore, expression of the bacterial XI in recombinant S. cerevisiae was highly induced by the addition of supplemental galactose as a co-substrate with xylose, and supplemented galactose enabled the yeast strain to grow on xylose and ferment xylose to ethanol.     

Anaerobic xylose fermentation by recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae carrying XYL1, XYL2, and XKS1 in mineral medium chemostat cultures

For ethanol production from lignocellulose, the fermentation of xylose is an economic necessity. Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been metabolically engineered with a xylose-utilizing pathway. However, the high ethanol yield and productivity seen with glucose have not yet been achieved. To quantitatively analyze metabolic fluxes in recombinant S. cerevisiae during metabolism of xylose-glucose mixtures, we constructed a stable xylose-utilizing recombinant strain, TMB 3001. The XYL1 and XYL2 genes from Pichia stipitis, encoding xylose reductase (XR) and xylitol dehydrogenase (XDH), respectively, and the endogenous XKS1 gene, encoding xylulokinase (XK), under control of the PGK1 promoter were integrated into the chromosomal HIS3 locus of S. cerevisiae CEN.PK 113-7A. The strain expressed XR, XDH, and XK activities of 0.4 to 0.5, 2.7 to 3.4, and 1.5 to 1.7 U/mg, respectively, and was stable for more than 40 generations in continuous fermentations. Anaerobic ethanol formation from xylose by recombinant S. cerevisiae was demonstrated for the first time. However, the strain grew on xylose only in the presence of oxygen. Ethanol yields of 0.45 to 0.50 mmol of C/mmol of C (0.35 to 0.38 g/g) and productivities of 9.7 to 13.2 mmol of C h(-1) g (dry weight) of cells(-1) (0.24 to 0.30 g h(-1) g [dry weight] of cells(-1)) were obtained from xylose-glucose mixtures in anaerobic chemostat cultures, with a dilution rate of 0.06 h(-1). The anaerobic ethanol yield on xylose was estimated at 0.27 mol of C/(mol of C of xylose) (0.21 g/g), assuming a constant ethanol yield on glucose. The xylose uptake rate increased with increasing xylose concentration in the feed, from 3.3 mmol of C h(-1) g (dry weight) of cells(-1) when the xylose-to-glucose ratio in the feed was 1:3 to 6.8 mmol of C h(-1) g (dry weight) of cells(-1) when the feed ratio was 3:1. With a feed content of 15 g of xylose/liter and 5 g of glucose/liter, the xylose flux was 2.2 times lower than the glucose flux, indicating that transport limits the xylose flux.     

Kinetic modelling reveals current limitations in the production of ethanol from xylose by recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Saccharomyces cerevisiae lacks the ability to ferment the pentose sugar xylose that is the second most abundant sugar in nature. Therefore two different xylose catabolic pathways have been heterologously expressed in S. cerevisiae. Whereas the xylose reductase (XR)-xylitol dehydrogenase (XDH) pathway leads to the production of the by-product xylitol, the xylose isomerase (XI) pathway results in significantly lower xylose consumption. In this study, kinetic models including the reactions ranging from xylose transport into the cell to the phosphorylation of xylulose to xylulose 5-P were constructed. They were used as prediction tools for the identification of putative targets for the improvement of xylose utilization in S. cerevisiae strains engineered for higher level of the non-oxidative pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) enzymes, higher xylulokinase and inactivated GRE3 gene encoding an endogenous NADPH-dependent aldose reductase. For both pathways, the in silico analyses identified a need for even higher xylulokinase (XK) activity. In a XR-XDH strain expressing an integrated copy of the Escherichia coli XK encoding gene xylB about a six-fold reduction of xylitol formation was confirmed under anaerobic conditions. Similarly overexpression of the xylB gene in a XI strain increased the aerobic growth rate on xylose by 21%. In contrast to the in silico predictions, the aerobic growth also increased 24% when the xylose transporter gene GXF1 from Candida intermedia was overexpressed together with xylB in the XI strain. Under anaerobic conditions, the XI strains overexpressing xylB gene and the combination of xylB and GFX1 genes consumed 27% and 37% more xylose than the control strain.