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Lactobacillus casei as a biocatalyst for biofuel production
Elena Vinay-Lara1, Song Wang2, Lina Bai3
1Department of Food Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 127B Babcock Hall, 1605 Linden Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, USA.
Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology
|June 18, 2016
Summary
Lactic acid bacteria, specifically Lactobacillus casei, show promise for biofuel production. Engineered L. casei E1 demonstrates superior alcohol tolerance and higher ethanol yields from plant biomass compared to other biocatalysts.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Biotechnology
- Sustainable Energy
Background:
- Microbial fermentation of plant biomass offers a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based fuels.
- Developing robust biocatalysts is crucial to overcome challenges like high alcohol concentrations and toxic compounds during fermentation.
- Lactic acid bacteria, particularly lactobacilli, possess inherent alcohol tolerance and adaptability to harsh environments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the potential of five Lactobacillus casei strains as biocatalysts for alcohol production.
- To select and engineer a L. casei strain (L. casei 12A) for enhanced alcohol production capabilities.
- To compare the performance of engineered L. casei E1 against other bacterial biocatalysts under industrial fermentation conditions.
Main Methods:
- Screening of five Lactobacillus casei strains for innate alcohol tolerance and utilization of plant-derived carbohydrates.
- Engineering of L. casei 12A to produce ethanol, creating the L. casei E1 derivative.
- Comparative analysis of maximal growth rate, optical density, and ethanol production for L. casei E1 and two other biocatalysts under lignocellulosic feedstock conditions.
Main Results:
- L. casei 12A was identified as a suitable strain due to its alcohol tolerance, high transformation efficiency, and ability to utilize plant carbohydrates.
- Engineered L. casei E1 demonstrated enhanced innate alcohol tolerance and improved growth in the presence of corn stover hydrolysate stressors.
- L. casei E1 achieved higher overall ethanol yields compared to the other tested bacterial biocatalysts.
Conclusions:
- Lactobacillus casei strains, particularly engineered variants like L. casei E1, are promising biocatalysts for efficient and robust alcohol production from plant biomass.
- The enhanced alcohol tolerance and stress resistance of L. casei E1 make it well-suited for industrial applications utilizing lignocellulosic feedstocks.
- This study highlights the potential of lactic acid bacteria in advancing sustainable biofuel production technologies.
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