Indiana Patent of the Month – January 2025
Xylogenics, Inc. has developed a breakthrough in yeast engineering that redefines the efficiency of ethanol production. By incorporating an exogenous MAL1 gene cluster alongside the MAL2-8c gene cluster into Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Xylogenics has enhanced the yeast’s ability to ferment maltose while simultaneously improving glucose consumption rates. This innovation allows for a more efficient conversion of starch-derived sugars into ethanol, reducing the reliance on external enzymes and increasing overall fermentation yield.
Traditional yeast strains prioritize glucose fermentation, often leaving maltose underutilized. Xylogenics’ modified strain, however, leverages both sugars simultaneously, reducing osmotic stress and accelerating the fermentation process. The addition of a functional MAL1 gene cluster, which includes genes for maltose transport, hydrolysis, and regulation, ensures the yeast can efficiently process high-maltose feedstocks. Meanwhile, the MAL2-8c gene cluster further enhances sugar metabolism, leading to improved ethanol yields.
Beyond improving fermentation efficiency, this recombinant yeast strain significantly reduces production costs. By decreasing the requirement for costly glucoamylase enzymes, ethanol producers can optimize resource utilization while maintaining high productivity. The strain’s ability to sustain fermentation at higher solid levels also enables a more concentrated ethanol output, minimizing water and energy consumption.
This innovation represents a major step forward in bioethanol production, offering a scalable solution for renewable fuel manufacturers. With Xylogenics’ advanced yeast strain, the industry can achieve higher ethanol yields while reducing costs and environmental impact—an evolution that brings us closer to a more sustainable energy future.
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The Research & Experimentation Tax Credit (or R&D Tax Credit), is a general business tax credit under Internal Revenue Code section 41 for companies that incur research and development (R&D) costs in the United States. The credits are a tax incentive for performing qualified research in the United States, resulting in a credit to a tax return. For the first three years of R&D claims, 6% of the total qualified research expenses (QRE) form the gross credit. In the 4th year of claims and beyond, a base amount is calculated, and an adjusted expense line is multiplied times 14%. Click here to learn more.
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