Thermophiles can produce cellulosic ethanol at a high temperature where ethanol is directly distillated from fermentation, and biodegradation of lignocellulose can be simultaneously achieved when these thermophiles carry and express cellulase and hemicellulase genes. The simultaneous biodegradation, fermentation and distillation, a three-in-one process, can result in low production costs of cellulosic ethanol. We reviewed the advances and challenges in the approach to the three-in-one process, which refer to lignocellulases, regulation mechanisms, and genetic transfer systems.
Bacteria ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cellulose ; metabolism ; Ethanol ; metabolism ; Fermentation ; Hot Temperature ; Thermoanaerobacterium ; metabolism

Cyclodextrin glucanotransferase, the essential enzyme for the production of cyclodextrins, has become the focus of scientific research nowadays. Although many related enzyme properties are well known, the crucial factors in product specificity determination remain to be answered. Here, the recent research progresses of cyclodextrin glucanotransferase, especially those about the evolution of product specificity, were reviewed, and the scientific problems were discussed.
Archaeal Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Bacillus ; enzymology ; genetics ; Bacterial Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Biocatalysis ; Cyclodextrins ; metabolism ; Evolution, Molecular ; Glucosyltransferases ; classification ; genetics ; metabolism ; Mutation ; Thermoanaerobacterium ; enzymology ; genetics ; Thermococcus