Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 26, 2026
11:28
Biomass Conversion to Produce Hydrocarbon Liquid Fuel Via Hot-vapor Filtered Fast Pyrolysis and Catalytic Hydrotreating
Published on: December 25, 2016
Alternative biofuel production in non-natural hosts
Jordan T McEwen1, Shota Atsumi
1Department of Chemistry, University of California, Davis, One Shields Ave, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
Current Opinion in Biotechnology
|January 10, 2012
Summary
Microorganisms are being engineered to produce biofuels from renewable resources. This review covers progress in modifying microbes with new elements for sustainable fuel alternatives like alcohols and alkanes.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Renewable Energy
- Synthetic Biology
Background:
- Growing global energy demands and environmental concerns necessitate sustainable alternatives to petroleum.
- Biological production of fuel metabolites offers a renewable and environmentally sound approach.
- Many target fuel compounds are not naturally produced at high yields by native organisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the advancements in genetically modifying microorganisms for biofuel production.
- To highlight the use of heterogeneous elements in microbial engineering for sustainable chemicals.
- To provide an overview of current strategies in metabolic engineering for renewable fuels.
Main Methods:
- Reviewing literature on microbial engineering for biofuel synthesis.
- Analyzing strategies for introducing heterologous elements into various microbial hosts.
- Summarizing host organisms and target biofuel molecules.
Main Results:
- Successful engineering of diverse microbial hosts for biofuel production.
- Demonstrated feasibility of producing various alcohols, fatty acids, alkenes, and alkanes.
- Progress in enhancing yields of desired fuel compounds through metabolic engineering.
Conclusions:
- Microbial engineering with heterogeneous elements is a powerful strategy for sustainable biofuel production.
- This approach offers a viable alternative to petroleum-derived products.
- Continued research promises further optimization of microbial platforms for renewable fuels.
More Related Videos
10:10Genetic Engineering of an Unconventional Yeast for Renewable Biofuel and Biochemical Production
Published on: September 20, 2016
11:44Qualitative Characterization of the Aqueous Fraction from Hydrothermal Liquefaction of Algae Using 2D Gas Chromatography with Time-of-flight Mass Spectrometry
Published on: March 6, 2016
Related Concept Videos
01:25Biofuels
The microbial conversion of organic matter into biofuels holds potential as a renewable energy source. Among biofuel sources, microalgae are recognized as a highly efficient and adaptable feedstock for biodiesel production, owing to their rapid biomass accumulation, elevated lipid productivity, and capacity to proliferate in diverse aquatic systems, including freshwater, marine, and wastewater habitats. Unlike terrestrial crops, microalgae do not compete for land and can achieve significantly...
01:22Bioreactor Controls-III
Strain improvement is a foundational strategy in industrial microbiology aimed at maximizing microbial productivity, particularly because natural isolates typically yield commercially valuable products in very low concentrations. Although optimizing the culture medium and environmental conditions can improve yields, these adjustments are inherently limited by the organism’s genetic potential. As a result, the focus shifts toward genetic modifications to enhance biosynthetic capacity. The...
00:46Bioremediation
Bioremediation is the use of prokaryotes, fungi, or plants to remove pollutants from the environment. This process has been used to remove harmful toxins in groundwater as a byproduct of agricultural run-off and also to clean up oil spills.
01:27Bioplastics
Bioplastics derived from microbial processes present a sustainable alternative to conventional petroleum-based plastics. Among these, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), particularly polyhydroxybutyrates (PHBs), have emerged as prominent candidates due to their biodegradability and biocompatibility. These polymers are synthesized by a variety of bacteria, such as Cupriavidus necator and Pseudomonas putida, which naturally accumulate PHAs as intracellular carbon and energy reserves, especially under...
01:21Green Algae
Green algae, also referred to as chlorophytes, are different from red algae in having the chloroplasts containing chlorophylls a and b, which give them their distinct green hue. However, they lack phycobiliproteins, preventing them from developing the red or blue-green pigmentation seen in red algae. In terms of photosynthetic pigment composition, green algae closely resemble plants and share a close evolutionary relationship with them. Taxonomically Green algae belong to Phylum Chlorophyta in...
01:18Production of Biopesticides
Biopesticides offer a sustainable alternative to chemical pesticides, utilizing microbial agents to control agricultural pests. Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a widely employed bacterium known for its potent insecticidal activity. Bt biopesticides are favored for their specificity to insect pests, minimal environmental impact, and natural degradability.Mechanism of Bt Toxin Action Bt produces insecticidal crystal (Cry) proteins during its sporulation phase. These proteins form parasporal...