The
xynB gene encoding the
Bacillus pumilusβ-xylosidase was expressed separately and jointly with the
Trichoderma reeseiβ-xylanase (
xyn2) gene in the yeast
Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Both genes were placed under the transcriptional control of the glucose-derepressible alcohol dehydrogenase 2 promoter (
ADH2
P
) and terminator (
ADH2
T
) sequences. The
xynB gene was fused in frame to the yeast mating factor α1 secretion sequence (
MFα
1
S
) to effect secretion in
S. cerevisiae. The fusion protein was designated Xlo1. Xlo1 produced in
S. cerevisiae exhibited low affinity for xylobiose, but eventually hydrolyzed xylobiose and xylotriose to the monomeric constituent,
d-xylose. Coproduction of Xyn2 and Xlo1 by
S. cerevisiae led to a 25% increase in the amount of reducing sugars released from birchwood xylan compared to
S. cerevisiae producing only the Xyn2 β-xylanase. However, no
d-xylose was produced from birchwood xylan, presumably due to very low Xlo1 β-xylosidase activity and its low affinity for
xylobiose.
Received: 7 December 1999 / Received revision: 29 February 2000 / Accepted: 6 March 2000