EXPRESSION CASSETTE FOR EUKARYOTIC CELL TRANSFORMATION, METHOD FOR TRANSFORMING EUKARYOTIC CELLS, GENETICALLY MODIFIED MICROORGANISM, METHOD FOR PRODUCING BIOFUELS AND/OR BIOCHEMICALS, AND BIOFUEL AND/OR BIOCHEMICAL THEREBY PRODUCED

摘要

The present invention describes an expression cassette for eukaryotic cell transformation, comprising the nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO: 2) encoding a xylose isomerase peptide (SEQ ID NO: 1), optionally also comprising other genes of the pentose phosphate pathway. The invention also describes a microorganism genetically modified by insertion of the described expression cassette, which is capable of consuming xylose and converting ethanol in comparison to its equivalent without such modifications. A method is also described for producing biofuels and biochemicals, preferably ethanol, from sugars that are abundant in the lignocellulosic portion of plant biomass, mainly pentoses, and, among the pentoses, mainly xylose. Biofuels, preferably ethanol, and biochemicals produced by the method of the invention are also described.