Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 14, 2026

Techniques for the Evolution of Robust Pentose-fermenting Yeast for Bioconversion of Lignocellulose to Ethanol
Published on: October 24, 2016
Fermentation of 10% (w/v) sugar to D: (-)-lactate by engineered Escherichia coli B
S Zhou1, L P Yomano, K T Shanmugam
1Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Illinois University, Dekalb, IL 60115, USA.
Abstract:
Derivatives of ethanologenic Escherichia coli K011 were constructed for D: (-)-lactate production by deleting genes encoding competing pathways followed by metabolic evolution, a growth-based selection for mutants with improved performance. Resulting strains, SZ132 and SZ186, contain native genes for sucrose utilization. No foreign genes are present in SZ186. Strain SZ132 also contains a chromosomally integrated endoglucanase gene (Erwinia chrysanthemi celY). Strain SZ132 produced over 1 mol lactate per liter of complex medium containing 10% (w/v) sugar (fermentation times of 48 h for glucose, 120 h for sucrose). Both strains produced 667-700 mmol lactate per liter of mineral salts medium. Yields for metabolized sugar ranged from 88% to 95% in both media.
Related Concept Videos
Bioreactor Controls-III
Production of Alcohol
Microbial Fermentation
Microbes in Food Production
Production of Organic Acids
Microbes in Beverage Production
