Analytical tools for unravelling the metabolism of gas-fermenting Clostridia

James K Heffernan; Vishnu Mahamkali; Kaspar Valgepea; Esteban Marcellin; Lars K Nielsen

doi:10.1016/j.copbio.2022.102700

Analytical tools for unravelling the metabolism of gas-fermenting Clostridia

Curr Opin Biotechnol. 2022 Jun:75:102700. doi: 10.1016/j.copbio.2022.102700. Epub 2022 Feb 28.

Authors

James K Heffernan¹, Vishnu Mahamkali¹, Kaspar Valgepea², Esteban Marcellin³, Lars K Nielsen⁴

Affiliations

¹ Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
² ERA Chair in Gas Fermentation Technologies, Institute of Technology, University of Tartu, Tartu 50411, Estonia.
³ Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia; Queensland Node of Metabolomics Australia, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
⁴ Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia; Queensland Node of Metabolomics Australia, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia; The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby DK-2800, Denmark. Electronic address: lars.nielsen@uq.edu.au.

PMID: 35240422
DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2022.102700

Abstract

Acetogens harness the Wood-Ljungdahl Pathway, a unique metabolic pathway for C1 capture close to the thermodynamic limit. Gas fermentation using acetogens is already used for CO-to-ethanol conversion at industrial-scale and has the potential to valorise a range of C1 and waste substrates to short-chain and medium-chain carboxylic acids and alcohols. Advances in analytical quantification and metabolic modelling have helped guide industrial gas fermentation designs. Further advances in the measurements of difficult to measure metabolites are required to improve kinetic modelling and understand the regulation of acetogen metabolism. This will help guide future synthetic biology designs needed to realise the full potential of gas fermentation in stimulating a circular bioeconomy.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Clostridium* / metabolism
Ethanol / metabolism
Fermentation
Metabolic Networks and Pathways*
Synthetic Biology

Substances

Ethanol