Co-Fermentation of Glucose–Xylose–Cellobiose–XOS Mixtures Using a Synthetic Consortium of Recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae Strains

The efficient conversion of cellulosic sugars is vital for the economically viable production of biofuels/biochemicals from lignocellulosic biomass hydrolysates. Based on comprehensive screening, Saccharomyces cerevisiae RC212 was chosen as the chassis strain for multiple integrations of heterologous β-glucosidase and β-xylosidase genes in the present study. The resulting recombinant BLN26 and LF1 form a binary synthetic consortium, and this co-culture system achieved partial fermentation of four sugars (glucose, xylose, cellobiose, and xylo-oligosaccharides). Then, we developed a ternary S. cerevisiae consortium consisting of LF1, BSGIBX, and 102SB. Almost all four sugars were efficiently fermented to ethanol within 24 h, and the ethanol yield is 0.482 g g−1 based on the consumed sugar. To our knowledge, this study represents the first exploration of the conversion of mixtures of glucose, xylose, cellobiose, and xylo-oligosaccharides by a synthetic consortium of recombinant S. cerevisiae strains. This synthetic consortium and subsequent improved ones have the potential to be used as microbial platforms to produce a wide array of biochemicals from lignocellulosic hydrolysates.