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Biomass-Derived Inhibitors of Holocellulases

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Abstract

Enzymes constitute a major monetary cost in the bioconversion of holocellulose to ethanol. Identifying enzyme inhibitors and moderating their effects is one approach that may help to overcome this issue. Most inhibitors that reduce the hydrolysis activity of holocellulases are released as the holocellulosic biomass is broken down in the pretreatment and hydrolysis steps. Recent reports in the literature have shown that the major inhibitors or deactivators of cellulases are phenols and xylooligosaccharides. The bioconversion of hemicelluloses by hemicellulases also has important practical applications in various agro-industrial processes in addition to the conversion of hemicellulosic biomass to fuels and chemicals. Hemicellulases, such as β-xylosidases, may also help alleviate the inhibitory effect of xylooligosaccharides to cellulases. However, compared to cellulases, less is known about the inhibition or deactivation of hemicellulases and pectinases, especially for inhibitors that are generated during pre-treatment and the hydrolysis of lignocellulosic substrates. Considering the importance of such enzymes for the complete degradation of lignocellulosic substrates, this review provides a broad view of the effect of inhibitors of holocellulases (cellulases, hemicellulases, and pectinases).

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Acknowledgments

E.X.F. acknowledges the receipt of a research fellowship from the Brazilian Research Council (CNPq). P.M.D.J. and L.R.S.M acknowledge the receipt of a postgraduate maintenance scholarship from CNPq and Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education, respectively. This work is funded by CNPq (research grants 563260/2010-6 and 563823/2010-0), Foundation for Research Support of Federal District (Brazil, Pronex Program) and National Institute of Science and Technology of Bioethanol. The authors would like to thank Dr. Eduardo de Aquino Ximenes for proofreading the manuscript.

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  1. Laboratory of Enzymology, Department of Cellular Biology, University of Brasília, Brasília, Distrito Federal, CEP 70910-900, Brazil

    Gilvan C. Duarte, Leonora Rios S. Moreira, Paula Marcela D. Jaramillo & Edivaldo Ximenes F. Filho

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  1. Gilvan C. Duarte
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  2. Leonora Rios S. Moreira
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Correspondence to Edivaldo Ximenes F. Filho.

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Duarte, G.C., Moreira, L.R.S., Jaramillo, P.M.D. et al. Biomass-Derived Inhibitors of Holocellulases. Bioenerg. Res. 5, 768–777 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12155-012-9182-6

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