NOVELTY - A host cell having a phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase transfer system negative (PTS-) phenotype and capable of co-utilization of glucose and xylose, is new. The host cell comprises (a) a first gene encoding a polypeptide having glucose transport activity, where the first gene is operably linked to a first heterologous promoter, and the polypeptide has at least 85% sequence identity to a 470 amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 2) fully defined in the specification and (b) a second encoding a polypeptide having xylose transport activity.    USE - The host cell, preferably E.coli strain is useful for producing an end-product chosen from alcohol, organic acid, hydrocarbon, amino acid, fatty acid derivative, diol, drug and drug precursor from a biomass substrate comprising one or more sugars (all claimed). The biomass includes wood, wood pulp, paper pulp, corn fiber, grain, corn grain, corn cobs, sugar cane, sugar beet, crop residues and cellulosic waste material and/or forestry waste materials, including paper and pulp processing waste, municipal paper waste and newsprint.    ADVANTAGE - The modified host cell exhibits at least a 10% increase in glucose and xylose co-utilization as compared to an unmodified host cell.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - A host cell having a phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase transfer system negative (PTS-) phenotype and capable of co-utilization of glucose and xylose, is new. The host cell comprises (a) a first gene encoding a polypeptide having glucose transport activity, where the first gene is operably linked to a first heterologous promoter, and the polypeptide having glucose transport activity has at least 85% sequence identity to a 470 amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 2) fully defined in the specification and (b) a second encoding a polypeptide having xylose transport activity, where the second gene is operably linked to a second heterologous promoter. INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are included for the following:    (1) method of producing the host cell; and    (2) method (M1) for producing an end-product from a biomass substrate comprising one or more sugars involves contacting the above-mentioned host cell with the biomass substrate, and culturing the modified host cell under suitable culture conditions.