Abstract
BackgroundThe versatility of microbial metabolic pathways enables their utilization in vast number of applications. However, the electron and carbon recovery rates, essentially constrained by limitations of cell energetics, are often too low in terms of process feasibility. Cocultivation of divergent microbial species in a single process broadens the metabolic landscape, and thus, the possibilities for more complete carbon and energy utilization.ResultsIn this study, we integrated the metabolisms of two bacteria, an obligate anaerobe Clostridium butyricum and an obligate aerobe Acinetobacter baylyi ADP1. In the process, a glucose-negative mutant of A. baylyi ADP1 first deoxidized the culture allowing C. butyricum to grow and produce hydrogen from glucose. In the next phase, ADP1 produced long chain alkyl esters (wax esters) utilizing the by-products of C. butyricum, namely acetate and butyrate. The coculture produced 24.5 ± 0.8 mmol/l hydrogen (1.7 ± 0.1 mol/mol glucose) and 28 mg/l wax esters (10.8 mg/g glucose).ConclusionsThe cocultivation of strictly anaerobic and aerobic bacteria allowed the production of both hydrogen gas and long-chain alkyl esters in a simple one-pot batch process. The study demonstrates the potential of ‘metabolic pairing’ using designed microbial consortia for more optimal electron and carbon recovery.
Highlights
The versatility of microbial metabolic pathways enables their utilization in vast number of applications
We have previously demonstrated the benefits of acetate redirection to biomass and product in a consortium of E. coli and Acinetobacter baylyi ADP1 [12]
This study demonstrates the potential of combining distinctive bacterial metabolisms for optimal electron and carbon recovery
Summary
The versatility of microbial metabolic pathways enables their utilization in vast number of applications. And Henson modelled substrate conversion by simultaneous utilization of hexoses and pentoses in a cocultivation by a respiratory deficient Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Scheffersomyces stipitis [6]. In another example, Minty et al demonstrated the production of isobutanol directly from lignocellulose hydrolysate by a coculture of a fungi Trichoderma reesei and a bacterium Escherichia coli. Zhang et al on the other hand, reported a coculture system, which involved a partial distribution of the metabolic pathway for cis– cis-muconic acid production in two engineered E. coli strains [10]. As a result of efficient intermediate redirection and alleviated burden to cells, the production of cis– cis-muconic acid was significantly improved
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