Overexpressing GRE3 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae enables high ethanol production from different lignocellulose hydrolysates

The efficiently renewable bioethanol can help to alleviate energy crisis and environmental pollution. Genetically modified strains for efficient use of xylose and developing lignocellulosic hydrolysates play an essential role in facilitating cellulosic ethanol production. Here we present a promising strain GRE3(OE) via GRE3 overexpressed in a previously reported Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain WXY70. A comprehensive evaluation of the fermentation level of GRE3(OE) in alkaline-distilled sweet sorghum bagasse, sorghum straw and xylose mother liquor hydrolysate. Under simulated corn stover hydrolysate, GRE3(OE) produced 53.39 g/L ethanol within 48 h. GRE3(OE) produced about 0.498 g/g total sugar in sorghum straw hydrolysate solution. Moreover, GRE3(OE) consumed more xylose than WXY70 in the high-concentration xylose mother liquor. Taken together, GRE3(OE) could be a candidate strain for industrial ethanol development, which is due to its remarkable fermentation efficiency during different lignocellulosic hydrolysates.