Conversion of cellulose to ethanol by mesophilic bacteria. Proposal for continuation of DOE Contract DE-AC02-81ER10878

Technical Report · Tue Apr 15 04:00:00 EST 1986

OSTI ID:5965715

Canale-Parola, E

The project objective is to study the genetics of mesophilic anaerobic bacteria that ferment cellulose to ethanol. Bacteria used in this investigation are strains of Clostridium that (1) convert to ethanol not only cellulose, but also components of the hemicellulosic portion of biomass and (2) are relatively ethanol tolerant. Studies include plasmid analysis and fine-structure mapping of genes involved in the breakdown of cellulose to soluble sugars. These genes code for cellulase system enzymes such as endo-1,4-..beta..-glucanases, exo-1,4-..beta..-glucanases, ..beta..-glucosidases, and cellobiose phosphorylase. The research includes characterization of cellulase system enzymes present in ethanol-producing mesophilic clostridia as well as enzymes used by these bacteria in the breakdown of hemicellulosic components. This work will provide fundamental information on the genetics of cellulose-fermenting, ethanol-producing clostridia. This information will be valuable for understanding metabolic processes used by anaerobic bacteria to degrade cellulose, and for developing clostridial strains that can be used in the industrial conversion of biomass to ethanol. Finally, the research will elucidate basic aspects of the genetics of clostridia. At present, very little is known about the genetic systems of this large group of anaerobic bacteria. 5 refs.

• Research Organization: Massachusetts Univ., Amherst (USA). Dept. of Microbiology
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-81ER10878
• OSTI ID: 5965715
• Report Number(s): DOE/ER/10878-T3; ON: DE86009000
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
090222* -- Alcohol Fuels-- Preparation from Wastes or Biomass-- (1976-1989)
550200 -- Biochemistry
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
BACTERIA
BIODEGRADATION
CARBOHYDRATES
CELLULASE
CELLULOSE
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHROMATOGRAPHY
CLONING
CLOSTRIDIUM
DECOMPOSITION
DNA-CLONING
ENZYMES
GEL PERMEATION CHROMATOGRAPHY
GENETIC ENGINEERING
GLUCOSIDASE
GLYCOSYL HYDROLASES
HYDROLASES
MICROORGANISMS
O-GLYCOSYL HYDROLASES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
POLYSACCHARIDES
SACCHARIDES
SEPARATION PROCESSES
ZYMOMONAS MOBILIS