Thermophilic ethanologenesis: future prospects for second-generation bioethanol production

• Published in: Trends in biotechnology (Regular ed.) Vol. 27; no. 7; pp. 398 - 405
• Main Authors: Taylor, Mark P, Eley, Kirsten L, Martin, Steve, Tuffin, Marla I, Burton, Stephanie G, Cowan, Donald A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, MA Elsevier Ltd 01-07-2009; [London]: Elsevier Science; Cell Press; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: alcoholic fermentation; Alternative energy sources; Bacteria - genetics; Bacteria - metabolism; Biofuel production; Biofuels; Biological and medical sciences; biomass; Biotechnology; biotransformation; Climate change; Energy; Energy policy; Ethanol; Ethanol - metabolism; ethanol production; Fermentation; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene Expression; Genes, Bacterial; Genetic Engineering; genetically engineered microorganisms; Geobacillus; High temperature; Hot Temperature; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; Internal Medicine; lignocellulose; lignocellulosic wastes; literature reviews; Metabolic Networks and Pathways - genetics; thermophilic bacteria; waste utilization; Yeast; Brazil; Clostridium; Thermoanaerobacterium; Ethanol; Clostridiales; Thermophily; Biofuel; Bioethanol; Review; Thermoanaerobacter; Genetically modified microorganism; Clostridiaceae; Production; Bacteria; Metabolic engineering
• ISSN: 0167-7799; 1879-3096
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2009.03.006

Strategies for improving fermentative ethanol production have focused almost exclusively on the development of processes based on the utilization of the carbohydrate fraction of lignocellulosic material. These so-called ‘second-generation’ technologies require metabolically engineered production strains that possess a high degree of catabolic versatility and are homoethanologenic. It has been suggested that the production of ethanol at higher temperatures would facilitate process design, and as a result the engineered progeny of Geobacillus thermoglucosidasius , Thermoanerobacterium saccharolyticum and Thermoanerobacter mathranii now form the platform technology of several new biotechnology companies. This review highlights the milestones in the development of these production strains, with particular focus on the development of reliable methods for cell competency, gene deletion or upregulation.