Study about electrochemical regulation of alcohol fermentation

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25871209
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Biofunction/Bioprocess; Applied microbiology
• Research Institution: Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry
• Principal Investigator: HIRANO Shin-ichi 一般財団法人電力中央研究所, その他部局等, その他 (20392748)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: アルコール発酵 / 電気培養 / 還元力 / Clostridium / ブタノール / エタノール / トランスクリプトーム

Outline of Final Research Achievements

To date, we revealed supplying electrons from the electrode to Clostridium acetobutylicum by electrochemical cultivation significantly improved butanol productivity. In this study, transcriptome of C. acetobutylicum in cultivating experiment with electrolysis and that without electrolysis were compared to clarify the mechanism of increasing butanol production. Transcriptional levels of 472 genes (309 genes were increased, 163 genes were decreased) were changed among 10 min electrolysis. Based on these results, mechanisms for turning ON/OFF the gene expression and for increasing butanol production in C. acetobutylicum were estimated.
Moreover, in order to avoid inhibiting effect on fermentation by butanol, the organic solvent (oleyl alcohol) was overlaid on culture medium in electrochemical cultivation system (two-phase). Two-phase electrochemical cultivation system improved about 5 times production of butanol by C. acetobutylicum from one-phase electrochemical cultivation system.

Free Research Field

応用微生物学