Abstract:

Research on cellulose biodegradation has been carried out for more than 50 years in Shandong University. Based on the mechanism studies on microbial degradation of lignocellulosics, a Penicillium decumbens strain, which can hydrolyze lignocellulose efficiently, was isolated from natural samples, and several catabolite repressionresistant mutants were obtained. Genome sequencing of the strains were carried out, and the composition of their enzyme system and the mechanism for regulation of enzyme synthesis were studied by systems biotechnological methods. The cellulase-overproducing mutants has been used for cellulase production in industrial scale, and for cellulosic ethanol production in biorefinery of corncobs.

Key words: cellulases, cellulosic ethanol, biorefinery, Penicillium decumbens