Effects of xylose reductase activity on xylitol production in two-substrate fermentation of recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Three recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains showing different levels of xylose reductase activity were constructed to investigate the effects of xylose reductase activity and glucose feed rate on xylitol production. Conversion of xylose to xylitol is catalyzed by xylose reductase of Pichia stipitis with cofactor NAD(P)H. A two-substrate fermentation strategy has been employed where glucose is used as an energy source for NADPH regeneration and xylose as substrate for xylitol production. All recombinant S. cerevisiae strains yielded similar specific xylitol productivity, indicating that xylitol production in the recombinant S. cerevisiae was more profoundly affected by the glucose supply and concomitant regeneration of cofactor than the xylose reductase activity itself. It was confirmed in a continuous culture that the elevation of the glucose feeding level in the xylose-conversion period enhanced the xylitol productivity in the recombinant S. cerevisiae.