Maximizing reductant flow into microbial H2 production.
Developing microbes into a sustainable source of hydrogen gas (H2) will require maximizing intracellular reductant flow toward the H2-producing enzymes. Recent attempts to increase H2 production in dark fermentative bacteria include increasing oxidation of organic substrates through metabolic engineering and expression of exogenous hydrogenases. In photofermentative bacteria, H2 production can be increased by minimizing reductant flow into competing pathways such as biomass formation and the Calvin cycle. One method of directing reductant toward H2 production being investigated in oxygenic phototrophs, which could potentially be applied to other H2-producing organisms, is the tethering of electron donors and acceptors, such as hydrogenase and photosystem I, to create new intermolecular electron transfer pathways.
Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States; DOE Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Madison, WI, United States.
Wayne S
WS
Kontur
Daniel R
DR
Noguera
Timothy J
TJ
Donohue
D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism*; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D006864:Hydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D060847:Metabolic Engineering; D053858:Metabolic Networks and Pathways; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism; D019163:Reducing Agents / Q000378:metabolism
D019163:Reducing Agents; D006859:Hydrogen; D006864:Hydrogenase; D010100:Oxygen