MODIFICATION OF HYDROGENASE ACTIVITIES IN THERMOPHILIC BACTERIA TO ENHANCE ETHANOL PRODUCTION

摘要

Bacteria consume a variety of biomass-derived substrates and produce ethanol. Hydrogenase genes have been inactivated m Thermoanaerobacterium saccharolyticum to generate mutant strains with reduced hydrogenase activities. One such mutant strain with both the ldh and hydtrA genes inactivated shows a significant increase in ethanol production. Manipulation of hydrogenase activities provides a new approach for enhancing substrate utilization and ethanol production by biomass-fermenting microorganisms.