title: The genetic engineering of microbial solvent production.
abstract: Although the production of acetone and butanol by Clostridium strains was a thriving industrial fermentation process, it is no longer competitive with the chemical synthesis of solvents and has been discontinued. However, studies on the molecular biology of Clostridium strains suggest that genetic engineering for improved solvent production is feasible, and could result in the revival of the industrial fermentation process.
authors.affiliation: Microbiology Department, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa.
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Woods
mesh_terms: D020001:1-Butanol; D000096:Acetone / Q000378:metabolism; D000440:Butanols / Q000378:metabolism; D003013:Clostridium / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D000431:Ethanol / Q000378:metabolism; D005285:Fermentation; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D005818:Genetic Engineering; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D008956:Models, Chemical; D016254:Mutagenesis, Insertional; D012997:Solvents / Q000378:metabolism*; D013170:Spores; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000235:genetics; D014169:Transformation, Bacterial
chemical_list: D000440:Butanols; D012997:Solvents; D000096:Acetone; D000431:Ethanol; D020001:1-Butanol