title: Metabolic engineering in dark fermentative hydrogen production; theory and practice.
abstract: Dark fermentation is an attractive option for hydrogen production since it could use already existing reactor technology and readily available substrates without requiring a direct input of solar energy. However, a number of improvements are required before the rates and yields of such a process approach those required for a practical process. Among the options for achieving the required advances, metabolic engineering offers some powerful tools for remodeling microbes to increase product production rates and molar yields. Here we review the current metabolic engineering tool box that is available, discuss the current status of engineering efforts as applied to dark hydrogen production, and suggest areas for future improvements.
authors.affiliation: Département de Microbiologie et Immunologie, Université de Montréal, CP 6128 Succursale Centre-ville, Montréal, Québec, Canada H3C 3J7.
authors.forename: Mona
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abo-Hashesh
authors.forename: Ruofan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Patrick C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Hallenbeck
mesh_terms: D003624:Darkness; D005285:Fermentation / Q000502:physiology*; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D006864:Hydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D060847:Metabolic Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D008954:Models, Biological
chemical_list: D006859:Hydrogen; D006864:Hydrogenase