초록
<P> The fermentation ability of thermotolerant <I>Kluyveromyces marxianus</I> BUNL-21 isolated in Laos was investigated. Comparison with thermotolerant <I>K. marxianus</I> DMKU3-1042 as one of the most thermotolerant yeasts isolated previously revealed that the strain possesses stronger ability for conversion of xylose to ethanol, resistance to 2-deoxyglucose in the case of pentose, and tolerance to various stresses including high temperature and hydrogen peroxide. <I>K. marxianus</I> BUNL-21 was found to have ethanol fermentation activity from xylose that is slightly lower and much higher than that of <I>Scheffersomyces stipitis</I> (<I>Pichia stipitis</I>) at 30 °C and at higher temperatures, respectively. The lower ethanol production seems to be due to large accumulation of acetic acid. The possible mechanism of acetic acid accumulation is discussed. In addition, it was found that both <I>K. marxianus</I> strains produced ethanol in the presence of 10 mM hydroxymethylfurfural or furfural, at a level almost equivalent to that in their absence. Therefore, <I>K. marxianus</I> BUNL-21 is a highly competent yeast for high-temperature ethanol fermentation with lignocellulosic biomass. </P><P><B>Electronic supplementary material</B></P><P>The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40064-016-1881-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.</P>