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Title: Organic Acid Production by Filamentous Fungi

Abstract

Many of the commercial production processes for organic acids are excellent examples of fungal biotechnology. However, unlike penicillin, the organic acids have had a less visible impact on human well-being. Indeed, organic acid fermentations are often not even identified as fungal bioprocesses, having been overshadowed by the successful deployment of the β-lactam processes. Yet, in terms of productivity, fungal organic acid processes may be the best examples of all. For example, commercial processes using Aspergillus niger in aerated stirred-tank-reactors can convert glucose to citric acid with greater than 80% efficiency and at final concentrations in hundreds of grams per liter. Surprisingly, this phenomenal productivity has been the object of relatively few research programs. Perhaps a greater understanding of this extraordinary capacity of filamentous fungi to produce organic acids in high concentrations will allow greater exploitation of these organisms via application of new knowledge in this era of genomics-based biotechnology. In this chapter, we will explore the biochemistry and modern genetic aspects of the current and potential commercial processes for making organic acids. The organisms involved, with a few exceptions, are filamentous fungi, and this review is limited to that group. Although yeasts including Saccharomyces cerevisiae, species of Rhodotorula, Pichia, andmore » Hansenula are important organisms in fungal biotechnology, they have not been significant for commercial organic acid production, with one exception. The yeast, Yarrowia lipolytica, and related yeast species, may be in use commercially to produce citric acid (Lopez-Garcia, 2002). Furthermore, in the near future engineered yeasts may provide new commercial processes to make lactic acid (Porro, Bianchi, Ranzi, Frontali, Vai, Winkler, & Alberghina, 2002). This chapter is divided into two parts. The first contains a review of the commercial aspects of current and potential large-scale processes for fungal organic acid production. The second presents a detailed review of current knowledge of the biochemistry and genetic regulation of organic acid biosynthesis. The organic acids considered are limited to polyfunctional acids containing one or more carboxyl groups, hydroxyl groups, or both, that are closely tied to central metabolic pathways. A major objective of the review is to link the biochemistry of organic acid production to the available genomic data.« less

Authors:
;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
903466
Report Number(s):
PNNL-SA-41208
TRN: US200720%%374
DOE Contract Number:  
AC05-76RL01830
Resource Type:
Book
Resource Relation:
Related Information: ADVANCES IN FUNGAL BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR INDUSTRY, AGRICULTURE, AND MEDICINE, 307-340
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES; ASPERGILLUS; BIOCHEMISTRY; BIOLOGICAL PATHWAYS; BIOSYNTHESIS; BIOTECHNOLOGY; CITRIC ACID; EFFICIENCY; FUNGI; GENETICS; GLUCOSE; LACTIC ACID; NIGER; ORGANIC ACIDS; PENICILLIN; RESEARCH PROGRAMS; SACCHAROMYCES CEREVISIAE; YEASTS; fungus; fungi; organic acids; biotechnology

Citation Formats

Magnuson, Jon K, and Lasure, Linda L. Organic Acid Production by Filamentous Fungi. United States: N. p., 2004. Web.
Magnuson, Jon K, & Lasure, Linda L. Organic Acid Production by Filamentous Fungi. United States.
Magnuson, Jon K, and Lasure, Linda L. 2004. "Organic Acid Production by Filamentous Fungi". United States.
@article{osti_903466,
title = {Organic Acid Production by Filamentous Fungi},
author = {Magnuson, Jon K and Lasure, Linda L},
abstractNote = {Many of the commercial production processes for organic acids are excellent examples of fungal biotechnology. However, unlike penicillin, the organic acids have had a less visible impact on human well-being. Indeed, organic acid fermentations are often not even identified as fungal bioprocesses, having been overshadowed by the successful deployment of the β-lactam processes. Yet, in terms of productivity, fungal organic acid processes may be the best examples of all. For example, commercial processes using Aspergillus niger in aerated stirred-tank-reactors can convert glucose to citric acid with greater than 80% efficiency and at final concentrations in hundreds of grams per liter. Surprisingly, this phenomenal productivity has been the object of relatively few research programs. Perhaps a greater understanding of this extraordinary capacity of filamentous fungi to produce organic acids in high concentrations will allow greater exploitation of these organisms via application of new knowledge in this era of genomics-based biotechnology. In this chapter, we will explore the biochemistry and modern genetic aspects of the current and potential commercial processes for making organic acids. The organisms involved, with a few exceptions, are filamentous fungi, and this review is limited to that group. Although yeasts including Saccharomyces cerevisiae, species of Rhodotorula, Pichia, and Hansenula are important organisms in fungal biotechnology, they have not been significant for commercial organic acid production, with one exception. The yeast, Yarrowia lipolytica, and related yeast species, may be in use commercially to produce citric acid (Lopez-Garcia, 2002). Furthermore, in the near future engineered yeasts may provide new commercial processes to make lactic acid (Porro, Bianchi, Ranzi, Frontali, Vai, Winkler, & Alberghina, 2002). This chapter is divided into two parts. The first contains a review of the commercial aspects of current and potential large-scale processes for fungal organic acid production. The second presents a detailed review of current knowledge of the biochemistry and genetic regulation of organic acid biosynthesis. The organic acids considered are limited to polyfunctional acids containing one or more carboxyl groups, hydroxyl groups, or both, that are closely tied to central metabolic pathways. A major objective of the review is to link the biochemistry of organic acid production to the available genomic data.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/903466}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon May 03 00:00:00 EDT 2004},
month = {Mon May 03 00:00:00 EDT 2004}
}

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