Use of glycoside hydrolase 61 family proteins in processing of cellulose

A method of producing a biofuel comprising ethanol, the method comprising:

• a) contacting a cellulose containing substrate with:
• i) a plurality of cellulase enzymes comprising an endoglucanase (EG), a β-glucosidase, and a cellobiohydrolase (CBH);
• and
• ii) a recombinant GH61 protein comprising an amino acid sequence that is at least 90% identical to residues 11-323 of SEQ ID NO:2 or to a biologically active fragment thereof;
• under conditions whereby simple sugars are produced from the substrate;
• b) combining simple sugars produced in step (a) with fungal cells under conditions whereby fermentation occurs and ethanol is produced;
• wherein the recombinant GH61 protein is a variant GH61 protein wherein one or more of residues 11-323 of SEQ ID NO:2 is changed to increase cellulase enhancing activity, as compared with the cellulase enhancing activity of GH61a (residues 11-323 of SEQ ID NO:2) without any of said residues changed.

A method of producing a biofuel comprising ethanol, the method comprising:

• a) contacting a cellulose containing substrate with:
• i) a plurality of cellulase enzymes comprising an endoglucanase (EG), a β-glucosidase, a cellobiohydrolase (CBH);
• and
• ii) a recombinant GH61 protein comprising an amino acid sequence that is at least 90% identical to residues 11-323 of SEQ ID NO:2 or to a biologically active fragment thereof;
• under conditions wherein said GH61 protein enhances cellulase activity of said cellulase enzymes, thereby producing simple sugars from the substrate;
• b) combining simple sugars produced in step (a) with fungal cells under conditions whereby fermentation occurs and ethanol is produced;
• wherein step (a) comprises contacting the cellulose containing substrate with one or more cellulase enzymes selected from SEQ ID NOs:61 to 68.

A method of producing fermentable sugars from a cellulose containing substrate, comprising combining the substrate with:

• a) an enzyme composition comprising one or more β-glucosidases and one or more cellobiohydrolases;
• and
• b) a recombinant GH61 protein that comprises an amino acid sequence that is at least 90% identical to residues 11-323 of SEQ ID NO:2 or to a biologically active fragment thereof;
• wherein the enzyme composition is substantially free of recombinant endoglucanase.