DUGi

How can alcohol production be improved in carboxydotrophic clostridia?

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Clostridia are well-known organisms within the scientific community, and many aspects of their life cycle have been studied. Autotrophic strains are especially interesting as microbial cell factories for industrial purposes. Carboxydotrophic clostridia can use CO2/H2 and/or CO as their only carbon and reducing power sources, and they produce alcohols and acids. Both products can be used as either biofuels or feedstock chemicals for many industrial processes, confirming the control of carboxydotrophic clostridia metabolism as one of the most profitable scientific ambitions to be explored. Here, we review the current state of research on alcohol production by carboxydotrophic clostridia, including a comprehensive overview of their metabolic pathways and the key experimental variables that govern alcohol production. Additionally, the genetic and genomic tools for selective and enhanced solvent production, which are currently under intense development, are discussed. In this context, this review covers the main genetic engineering methods that have been utilized to improve the capabilities of solventogenic carboxydotrophic bacteria

The review was prepared within the framework of the fellowship 2013 FI-DGR from Catalan Government and projects Best-Energy CTQ2011-23632 and CTM2013-43454-R from Spanish Ministry. LEQUIA and [BA are recognized as consolidated research groups by the Catalan Government (2014-SGR-1168 and 2014-SGR-2016). Ramon Ganigue gratefully acknowledges support from the Beatriu de Pinos Fellowship (BP-2011-B) and FP7 Marie Curie Career Integration Grants (PCIG13-GA-2013-618593

Elsevier