Recent advances in genetic engineering of thermophilic ethanol producing bacteria

Sean Michael Scully, Johann Orlygsson*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Thermophilic bacteria have gained increased interest as bioprocessing platforms for bioethanol production from second generation biomass with a particular emphasis on thermophilic clostridia species. Although thermophilic bacteria possess many advantages such as broad substrate spectra, fast growth rates, and high tolerance for environmental factors, they usually tolerate less ethanol than yeasts and produce various by-products apart from ethanol. These two factors have been addressed for several thermophilic bacteria through genetic engineering, to increase ethanol tolerance or cut off branching fermentation pathways and direct end product formation towards ethanol only. The best wild type ethanol producers belong to clostridia, particularly Thermoanaerobacter, Thermoanaerobacterium, and Clostridium. Additionally, non-native ethanol producers exhibiting cellulolytic properties have been genetically modified to insert genes for ethanol production pathways, as of Caldicellulosiruptor bescii. The scope of this chapter is on recent genetic engineering of thermophilic ethanol-producing bacteria.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationEngineering of Microorganisms for the Production of Chemicals and Biofuels from Renewable Resources
PublisherSpringer International Publishing
Pages1-29
Number of pages29
ISBN (Electronic)9783319517292
ISBN (Print)9783319517285
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2017

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 Springer International Publishing AG.

Other keywords

  • Anaerobes
  • Bioethanol
  • Combined bioprocessing
  • Extremophiles
  • Lignocellulose

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