Engineered microbial systems for enhanced conversion of lignocellulosic biomass.
In order for plant biomass to become a viable feedstock for meeting the future demand for liquid fuels, efficient and cost-effective processes must exist to breakdown cellulosic materials into their primary components. A one-pot conversion strategy or, consolidated bioprocessing, of biomass into ethanol would provide the most cost-effective route to renewable fuels and the realization of this technology is being actively pursued by both multi-disciplinary research centers and industrialists working at the very cutting edge of the field. Although a diverse range of bacteria and fungi possess the enzymatic machinery capable of hydrolyzing plant-derived polymers, none discovered so far meet the requirements for an industrial strength biocatalyst for the direct conversion of biomass to combustible fuels. Synthetic biology combined with a better fundamental understanding of enzymatic cellulose hydrolysis at the molecular level is enabling the rational engineering of microorganisms for utilizing cellulosic materials with simultaneous conversion to fuel.
Elkins
James G
JG
BioEnergy Science Center, Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA.
Raman
Babu
B
Keller
Martin
M
D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018533:Biomass; D002480:Cellulase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005658:Fungi / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008031:Lignin / Q000378:metabolism*; D008954:Models, Biological; D010944:Plants / Q000378:metabolism*
C036909:lignocellulose; D008031:Lignin; D002480:Cellulase