Expression of the inulinase gene from the marine‐derived Pichia guilliermondii in Saccharomyces sp. W0 and ethanol production from inulin

It has been confirmed that Saccharomyces sp. W0 can produce high concentration of ethanol. In this study, the INU1 gene cloned from the marine‐derived Pichia guilliermondii was transformed into uracil mutant of Saccharomyces sp. W0. The positive transformant Inu‐66 obtained could produce 34.2 U ml(−1) of extracellular inulinase within 72 h of cultivation. It was found that 15.2 U of inulinase activity per one gram of inulin was suitable for inulin hydrolysis and ethanol production by the transformant Inu‐66. During the small‐scale fermentation, 13.7 ml of ethanol in 100 ml of medium was produced and 99.1% of the added inulin was utilized by the transformant. During the 2 l fermentation, 14.9% (v/v) of ethanol was produced from inulin and 99.5% of the added inulin was converted into ethanol, CO(2) and cell mass.