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Waste Water Derived Electroactive Microbial Biofilms: Growth, Maintenance, and Basic Characterization

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Published on: December 29, 2013

Identifying target processes for microbial electrosynthesis by elementary mode analysis.

Frauke Kracke^1,2, Jens O Krömer^3,4

¹Centre for Microbial Electrosynthesis, The University of Queensland, Level 4, Gehrmann Laboratories Building (60), Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia. f.kracke@uq.edu.au.

BMC Bioinformatics

|December 31, 2014

Summary

This study uses computational analysis to identify optimal conditions for electro-fermentation, revealing significant yield increases for valuable chemicals. Understanding electron transport mechanisms is key to advancing bio-electrochemical production.

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Area of Science:

Biotechnology
Metabolic Engineering
Computational Biology

Background:

Microbial electrosynthesis and electro-fermentation optimize chemical/fuel production by regulating cellular redox balance with electrodes.
Decades-old concepts face knowledge gaps hindering biotechnological potential evaluation.
In silico elementary mode analysis is employed to identify beneficial electro-fermentation processes.

Purpose of the Study:

To screen 20 valuable products for increased yields via electrically enhanced fermentation.
To investigate the relationship between product derivation pathways and yield improvements.
To analyze the impact of electron transport mechanisms on biomass and product yields.

Main Methods:

In silico elementary mode analysis.
Screening of 20 different valuable products for electro-fermentation potential.
Modeling different electron transport mechanisms and their impact on yields.

Main Results:

Electrically enhanced fermentation can increase product formation, not solely dependent on product reduction degree but on metabolic pathways.
Maximal yield increases of 36% (reductive) and 84% (oxidative) were observed, with theoretical yields up to 100%.
Beneficial processes identified include succinic acid, lysine, diaminopentane, isoprene, and para-hydroxybenzoic acid; electron transport coupling to energy conservation is crucial.

Conclusions:

A computational tool is introduced for selecting optimal substrate-product combinations in electro-fermentation.
Maximal yields in bio-electrochemical techniques are strongly dependent on electron transport mechanisms.
Further research into fundamental electron transport processes is vital for optimizing electro-fermentation beyond lab-scale.