Research advances on ethanol production by xylose fermentation with yeast

In the biological conversion of ethanol from lignocelluloses,the hydrolysis of lignocelluloses for monosacchride is the first step.Xylose was the second major monosacchride followed by glucose in the hydrolysates of lignocelluloses.Efficient utilization of xylose to ethanol production is one of critical points for fuel ethanol production from lignocelluloses.However,few natural microorganisms observed for conversion of ethanol from xylose.Compared to bacteria and other fungals,yeast has significant advantages.Ethanol production mechanism of yeast from xylose and advanced research on strains breeding,which included mutation,protolast fusion,application of genetic engineering and protein engineering,were reviewed in the paper and the applications was prospected.