Project description:The expression profile of C. autoethanogenum DSM 10061 grown autotrophically with H2:CO:CO2 under visible light at an intensity of 4200 lux versus the expression profile of C. autoethanogenum DSM 10061 grown autotrophically in the dark
Project description:Gas fermentation is emerging as an economically attractive option for the sustainable production of fuels and chemicals from gaseous waste feedstocks. Clostridium autoethanogenum can use CO and/or CO2 + H2 as its sole carbon and energy sources. Fermentation of C. autoethanogenum is currently being deployed on a commercial scale for ethanol production. Expanding the product spectrum of acetogens will enhance the economics of gas fermentation. To achieve efficient heterologous product synthesis, limitations in redox and energy metabolism must be overcome. Here, we engineered and characterised at a systems-level, a recombinant poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB)-producing strain of C. autoethanogenum. Cells were grown in CO-limited steady-state chemostats on two gas mixtures, one resembling syngas (20% H2) and the other steel mill off-gas (2% H2). Results were characterised using metabolomics and transcriptomics, and then integrated using a genome-scale metabolic model reconstruction. PHB-producing cells had an increased expression of the Rnf complex, suggesting energy limitations for heterologous production. Subsequent optimisation of the bioprocess led to a 12-fold increase in the cellular PHB content. The data suggest that the cellular redox state, rather than the acetyl-CoA pool, was limiting PHB production. Integration of the data into the genome-scale metabolic model showed that ATP availability limits PHB production. Altogether, the data presented here advances the fundamental understanding of heterologous product synthesis in gas-fermenting acetogens.
Project description:Microbes that can recycle one-carbon (C1) greenhouse gases into fuels and chemicals are vital for the biosustainability of future industries. Acetogens are the most efficient known microbes for fixing carbon oxides CO2 and CO. Understanding proteome allocation is important for metabolic engineering as it dictates metabolic fitness. Here, we use absolute proteomics to quantify intracellular concentrations for >1,000 proteins in the model-acetogen Clostridium autoethanogenum grown on three gas mixtures. We detect prioritisation of proteome allocation for C1 fixation and significant expression of proteins involved in the production of acetate and ethanol as well as proteins with unclear functions. The data also revealed which isoenzymes are important. Integration of proteomic and metabolic flux data demonstrated that enzymes catalyse high fluxes with high concentrations and high in vivo catalytic rates. We show that flux throughput was dominantly controlled through enzyme catalytic rates rather than concentrations. Our work serves as a reference dataset and advances systems-level understanding and engineering of acetogens.
Project description:This experiment aim was to characterize the catabolism of L-rhamnose of Clostridium beijerinckii DSM 6423 by transcriptomic analysis, generating new insights and knowledge on utilization of L-rhamnose for production of chemicals, including Isopropanol, Butanol, Ethanol (IBE) and 1,2-propandiol. These analysis on cultures grown on L-rhamnose compared to D-glucose grown cultures showed upregulation of the L-rhamnose-related clusters and genes, and lower expression of the solventogenic genes, which was reflected in the products formed.