Applying Non-canonical Redox Cofactors in Fermentation Processes

Ruud A Weusthuis; Pauline L Folch; Ana Pozo-Rodríguez; Caroline E Paul

doi:10.1016/j.isci.2020.101471

Applying Non-canonical Redox Cofactors in Fermentation Processes

iScience. 2020 Aug 18;23(9):101471. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2020.101471. eCollection 2020 Sep 25.

Authors

Ruud A Weusthuis¹, Pauline L Folch¹, Ana Pozo-Rodríguez¹, Caroline E Paul²

Affiliations

¹ Bioprocess Engineering, Wageningen University & Research, Post Office Box 16, 6700 AA Wageningen, the Netherlands.
² Biocatalysis, Department of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, 2629 HZ Delft, the Netherlands.

Abstract

Fermentation processes are used to sustainably produce chemicals and as such contribute to the transition to a circular economy. The maximum theoretical yield of a conversion can only be approached if all electrons present in the substrate end up in the product. Control over the electrons is therefore crucial. However, electron transfer via redox cofactors results in a diffuse distribution of electrons over metabolism. To overcome this challenge, we propose to apply non-canonical redox cofactors (NRCs) in metabolic networks: cofactors that channel electrons exclusively from substrate to product, forming orthogonal circuits for electron transfer.

Keywords: Biotechnology; Metabolic Engineering; Microbiology.

Publication types

Review