The Role of Synthetic Biology in the Design of Microbial Cell Factories for Biofuel Production

Verónica Leticia Colin,Analía Rodríguez,Héctor Antonio Cristóbal

doi:10.1155/2011/601834

Abstract

Insecurity in the supply of fossil fuels, volatile fuel prices, and major concerns regarding climate change have sparked renewed interest in the production of fuels from renewable resources. Because of this, the use of biodiesel has grown dramatically during the last few years and is expected to increase even further in the future. Biodiesel production through the use of microbial systems has marked a turning point in the field of biofuels since it is emerging as an attractive alternative to conventional technology. Recent progress in synthetic biology has accelerated the ability to analyze, construct, and/or redesign microbial metabolic pathways with unprecedented precision, in order to permit biofuel production that is amenable to industrial applications. The review presented here focuses specifically on the role of synthetic biology in the design of microbial cell factories for efficient production of biodiesel.

Highlights

Global warming and the continued depletion of nonrenewable fuel resources are two major problems that entangle our planet today and demand immediate solutions [1]
Synthetic biology emerged around the year 2000 as a new biological discipline, and many different definitions have been applied to this field
Xylose metabolism was introduced into Z. mobilis CP4 by expression of E. coli genes encoding for xylose isomerase (XYLA) and xylulokinase (XYLB) (Figure 4)

Summary

Introduction

Global warming and the continued depletion of nonrenewable fuel resources are two major problems that entangle our planet today and demand immediate solutions [1]. The extensive use of fossil fuels has caused greenhouse gas emissions and damage to the environment, and has led to the current instability of oil supplies and continuous fluctuations in prices These factors, which revolve around economic, environmental and geopolitical issues, are central to the continued interest seen in renewable energy sources [2]. While metabolic engineering has enabled extraordinary advances in the redesign of pathways for efficient target molecule production, including biofuels [5, 18,19,20], tools from synthetic biology make it possible to create new biological functions that do not exist in nature. This paper reviews approaches to microbial synthesis of biodiesel, focusing on the role of synthetic biology as an enabling technology in the design of optimal cell factories

Biofuel Feedstocks

Synthetic Biology and Biodiesel Production

NADH Pyruvate

Findings

Conclusions and Future Perspectives