污泥厌氧消化产酸发酵过程中乙酸累积机制

[目的]研究污泥厌氧消化产挥发性脂肪酸(VFA)过程中的有机物碳流的转化机制,阐明乙酸累积机理。[方法]研究溴乙烷磺酸盐(BES)和氯仿(CHCl3)抑制模型下中间代谢产物和气体的累积,检测各产乙酸功能菌群数量,推断污泥产酸发酵过程中的有机物碳流方向和乙酸累积机理。[结果]BES模型乙酸浓度达27 mmol/L,fhs基因拷贝数比对照组高2-3倍,产氢产乙酸菌略有下降。CHCl3模型乙酸浓度达22 mmol/L,fhs基因拷贝数比BES组低一个数量级,产氢产乙酸菌下降明显。[结论]BES特异性较高,除产甲烷菌外对其他厌氧产酸细菌没有影响,乙酸浓度增加并且其主要来源于水解发酵产酸以及同型产乙酸过程。氯仿除抑制产甲烷菌外,对同型乙酸菌和产氢产乙酸菌也有强烈的抑制作用。     

不同生境微生物转化H2/CO2产乙酸及其在合成气发酵中应用

【目的】合成气发酵对大力开发可再生资源和促进国家可持续发展具有重要意义,研究旨在探究不同生境微生物转化H2/CO2产乙酸及其合成气发酵的潜力。【方法】采集剩余污泥、牛粪、产甲烷污泥和河道底物样品在中温(37 °C)条件下生物转化H2/CO2气体,将来源于牛粪样品的H2/CO2转化富集物用于合成气发酵,通过454高通量技术和定量PCR技术分析复杂微生物群落的组成,GC气相色谱法检测气体转化产生的挥发性脂肪酸(VFAs)浓度。【结果】牛粪和剩余污泥微生物利用H2/CO2气体生成乙酸、乙醇和丁酸等,最高乙酸浓度分别为63 mmol/L和40 mmol/L,明显高于河道底物和产甲烷污泥样品的最高乙酸浓度3 mmol/L和16 mmol/L。牛粪和剩余污泥微生物中含有种类多样化的同型产乙酸菌,剩余污泥中同型产乙酸菌主要为Clostridium spp.、Sporomusa malonica和Acetoanaerobium noterae,牛粪中则为Clostridium spp.、Treponema azotonutricium和Oxobacter pfennigii。【结论】同型产乙酸菌的丰富度和数量两个因素都对复杂微生物群落转化H2/CO2产乙酸效率至关重要;转化H2/CO2得到的富集物可用于合成气发酵产乙酸和乙醇,这为基于混合培养技术的合成气发酵提供了依据。     

不同生境微生物转化H_2/CO_2产乙酸及其在合成气发酵中应用（英文）

【目的】合成气发酵对大力开发可再生资源和促进国家可持续发展具有重要意义,研究旨在探究不同生境微生物转化H_2/CO_2产乙酸及其合成气发酵的潜力。【方法】采集剩余污泥、牛粪、产甲烷污泥和河道底物样品在中温(37°C)条件下生物转化H_2/CO_2气体,将来源于牛粪样品的H_2/CO_2转化富集物用于合成气发酵,通过454高通量技术和定量PCR技术分析复杂微生物群落的组成,GC气相色谱法检测气体转化产生的挥发性脂肪酸(VFAs)浓度。【结果】牛粪和剩余污泥微生物利用H_2/CO_2气体生成乙酸、乙醇和丁酸等,最高乙酸浓度分别为63 mmol/L和40 mmol/L,明显高于河道底物和产甲烷污泥样品的最高乙酸浓度3 mmol/L和16 mmol/L。牛粪和剩余污泥微生物中含有种类多样化的同型产乙酸菌,剩余污泥中同型产乙酸菌主要为Clostridium spp.、Sporomusa malonica和Acetoanaerobium noterae,牛粪中则为Clostridium spp.、Treponema azotonutricium和Oxobacter pfennigii。【结论】同型产乙酸菌的丰富度和数量两个因素都对复杂微生物群落转化H_2/CO_2产乙酸效率至关重要;转化H_2/CO_2得到的富集物可用于合成气发酵产乙酸和乙醇,这为基于混合培养技术的合成气发酵提供了依据。     

利用合成气生产生物基醇类化学品的研究进展

以合成气为底物生产乙醇、丁醇、己醇等生物基醇类化学品可以降低原料成本,减轻对化石燃料的依赖,推动碳中和目标的实现。概述了产乙酸菌中能够利用合成气的Wood-Ljungdahl途径及该过程中产乙酸菌的能量节约机制,综述了产乙酸菌遗传操作工具的发展及代谢工程改造进展。大量研究揭示了发酵条件（如温度、pH、金属离子、有机氮源、硝酸盐等）对产乙酸菌生长及醇类产物合成具有复杂的影响。气体成分及气液传质效率也是影响合成气利用的重要因素。另外,指出了利用合成气生产生物基醇类化学品现存的瓶颈问题,并展望了未来的研究方向,包括开发产乙酸中的高效基因编辑方法,在模式菌株中构建合成气利用途径、优化温度、pH、反应器设计及利用廉价培养基进行发酵。     

碳一气体生物利用进展

近年来,随着经济的快速发展和人们对于资源需求的增长,化石燃料的使用越来越多,这一方面加剧了能源的过度消耗,另一方面导致了环境污染和温室效应加重。为了在保护环境的同时有效地利用资源,越来越多的研究集中在通过细胞工厂平台进行能源和化学品的生物合成。利用特定的微生物(如嗜甲烷菌、微藻和梭菌等)可以将温室气体和合成气中的碳一成分通过发酵过程转化为能源和化学品。本文中,笔者详细讨论了不同微生物转化3种碳一气体(CH_4、CO_2和CO)的生物代谢途径、关键合成酶、最终代谢产物和生物转化过程的优化及放大。     

代谢工程与重组大肠杆菌的发酵

利用代谢工程可以在重组大肠杆菌的改良中减少代谢副产物乙酸的累积,优化代谢系统,利于重组蛋白质的高表达以及重组菌的高密度发酵。应用代谢工程改良重组大肠杆菌主要包括阻断乙酸产生的主要途径、限制糖酵解途径上的碳代谢流、将过量的丙酮酸转化为其它低毒的副产物以及对碳代谢流进行分流等几个方面的工作。     

乙酸、糠醛和5-羟甲基糠醛对产酸克雷伯氏菌发酵生产2,3-丁二醇的影响

为了解产酸克雷伯氏菌对木质纤维素水解液中主要抑制物的耐受和代谢,考察了产酸克雷伯氏菌发酵生产2,3-丁二醇(2,3-butanediol,2,3-BDO)过程中对3种发酵抑制物乙酸、糠醛和5-羟甲基糠醛(5-hydroxymethylfurfural HMF)的耐受以及抑制物浓度的变化,检测了糠醛和HMF的代谢产物.结果表明:产酸克雷伯氏菌对乙酸、糠醛和HMF的耐受浓度分别为30 g/L、4 g/L和5 g/L.并且部分乙酸可作为生产2,3-丁二醇的底物,在0～30 g/L浓度范围内可提高2,3-丁二醇的产量.发酵过程中产酸克雷伯氏菌可将HMF和糠醛全部转化,其中约70％HMF被转化为2,5-呋喃二甲醇,30％HMF和全部糠醛被菌体代谢.研究表明在木质纤维素水解液生产2,3-丁二醇的脱毒过程中可优先考虑脱除糠醛,一定浓度的乙酸可以不用脱除.     

利用氢和二氧化碳生长的一个泥杆菌新种——嗜氢泥杆菌

从降解有机物产生甲烷的富集培养物中分离到一株利用巴豆酸的严格厌氧革兰氏阴性杆菌.此菌利用氢和二氧化碳或甲酸合成乙酸,发酵巴豆酸产生丁酸和乙酸,发酵葡萄糖、果糖、麦芽糖和半乳糖产生乙酸、乙醇和氢或甲酸,不利用延胡索酸、酒石酸和柠檬酸生长.该菌不产生芽孢,不还原硫酸盐,触酶反应阴性,DNA的G+C含量为30.7±1mol%,是泥杆菌属中的一个新种,定名为嗜氢泥杆菌(Ilyobacter hydrogenotrophicus nov.sp.).     

甲烷生物利用及嗜甲烷菌的工程改造

作为来源广泛、储量丰富的有机碳一气体,甲烷被认为是下一代工业生物技术中最具潜力的碳原料之一。嗜甲烷菌能够利用其体内的甲烷单加氧化酶,将甲烷作为唯一的碳源和能源进行生长和代谢,这为温室气体减排及其开发利用提供了新的策略。目前,嗜甲烷菌生物催化体系的相关研究已开展多年,随着系统生物学和合成生物学的快速发展,利用代谢工程合理改造嗜甲烷菌代谢途径以提高甲烷转化效率,已经实现了生物转化甲烷制备多种大宗化学品和生物燃料。本文详细讨论并介绍了嗜甲烷菌催化氧化甲烷的相关代谢途径、高效细胞工厂构建及部分化学品生物合成的最新研究进展,并对甲烷生物转化未来的发展方向和面临的技术挑战进行了讨论和展望。     

利用氢和二氧化碳生长的一个泥杆菌新种——嗜氢泥杆菌

从降解有机物产生甲烷的富集培养物中分离到一株利用巴豆酸的严格厌氧革兰氏阴性杆菌.此菌利用氢和二氧化碳或甲酸合成乙酸,发酵巴豆酸产生丁酸和乙酸,发酵葡萄糖、果糖、麦芽糖和半乳糖产生乙酸、乙醇和氢或甲酸,不利用延胡索酸、酒石酸和柠檬酸生长.该菌不产生芽孢,不还原硫酸盐,触酶反应阴性,DNA的G+C含量为30.7±1mol%,是泥杆菌属中的一个新种,定名为嗜氢泥杆菌(Ilyobacter hydrogenotrophicus nov.sp.).     

Leveraging substrate flexibility and product selectivity of acetogens in two-stage systems for chemical production

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) stands out as sustainable feedstock for developing a circular carbon economy whose energy supply could be obtained by boosting the production of clean hydrogen from renewable electricity. H₂-dependent CO₂ gas fermentation using acetogenic microorganisms offers a viable solution of increasingly demonstrated value. While gas fermentation advances to achieve commercial process scalability, which is currently limited to a few products such as acetate and ethanol, it is worth taking the best of the current state-of-the-art technology by its integration within innovative bioconversion schemes. This review presents multiple scenarios where gas fermentation by acetogens integrate into double-stage biotechnological production processes that use CO₂ as sole carbon feedstock and H₂ as energy carrier for products' synthesis. In the integration schemes here reviewed, the first stage can be biotic or abiotic while the second stage is biotic. When the first stage is biotic, acetogens act as a biological platform to generate chemical intermediates such as acetate, formate and ethanol that become substrates for a second fermentation stage. This approach holds the potential to enhance process titre/rate/yield metrics and products' spectrum. Alternatively, when the first stage is abiotic, the integrated two-stage scheme foresees, in the first stage, the catalytic transformation of CO₂ into C₁ products that, in the second stage, can be metabolized by acetogens. This latter scheme leverages the metabolic flexibility of acetogens in efficient utilization of the products of CO₂ abiotic hydrogenation, namely formate and methanol, to synthesize multicarbon compounds but also to act as flexible catalysts for hydrogen storage or production.     

Advances in systems metabolic engineering of autotrophic carbon oxide-fixing biocatalysts towards a circular economy

High levels of anthropogenic CO₂ emissions are driving the warming of global climate. If this pattern of increasing emissions does not change, it will cause further climate change with severe consequences for the human population. On top of this, the increasing accumulation of solid waste within the linear economy model is threatening global biosustainability. The magnitude of these challenges requires several approaches to capture and utilize waste carbon and establish a circular economy. Microbial gas fermentation presents an exciting opportunity to capture carbon oxides from gaseous and solid waste streams with high feedstock flexibility and selectivity. Here we discuss available microbial systems and review in detail the metabolism of both anaerobic acetogens and aerobic hydrogenotrophs and their ability to utilize C1 waste feedstocks. More specifically, we provide an overview of the systems-level understanding of metabolism, key metabolic pathways, scale-up opportunities and commercial successes, and the most recent technological advances in strain and process engineering. Finally, we also discuss in detail the gaps and opportunities to advance the understanding of these autotrophic biocatalysts for the efficient and economically viable production of bioproducts from recycled carbon.     

一碳气体利用微生物及其基因工程改造

一碳气体主要包括CO、CO_(2)和CH_(4)等,这些气体来源于陆地生物活动、工业废气以及气化合成气等,其中CO_(2)与CH_(4)是温室气体,对全球气候变化有着重要的影响。利用微生物进行一碳气体生物转化既可以解决废气排放的问题,又能生产燃料及多种化学品。近年来,运用CRISPR/Cas9等基因编辑技术对一碳气体利用微生物进行改造,是提高它们的产物得率、增加产物类型的重要途径。本文主要围绕甲烷营养菌、自养乙酸菌、一氧化碳营养菌等一碳气体利用微生物,综述了其生物学特性、好氧和厌氧代谢途径、代谢产物,以及常用的基因编辑技术(利用同源重组的基因中断技术、二类内含子ClosTron法、CRISPR/Cas基因编辑及以噬菌体重组酶介导的DNA大片段引入等)在它们中的应用,为后续相关研究提供参考。     

Engineering Clostridium ljungdahlii as the gas-fermenting cell factory for the production of biofuels and biochemicals

Clostridium ljungdahlii is a representative autotrophic gas-fermenting acetogen capable of converting CO₂ and CO into biomass and multiple metabolites. The carbon fixation and conversion based on C. ljungdahlii have great potential for the sustainable production of bulk biochemicals and biofuels using industrial syngas and waste gases. With substantial recent advances in genetic manipulation tools, it has become possible to study and improve the metabolic capability of C. ljungdahlii in gas fermentation. The product scope of C. ljungdahlii has been expanded through the introduction of heterologous production pathways followed by the modification of native metabolic networks. In addition, progress has been made in understanding the physiological and metabolic mechanisms of this anaerobe, contributing to strain designs for expected phenotypes. In this review, we highlight the latest research progresses regarding C. ljungdahlii and discuss the next steps to comprehensively understand and engineer this bacterium for an improved bacterial gas bioconversion platform.     

Online measurement of dissolved carbon monoxide concentrations reveals critical operating conditions in gas fermentation experiments

Syngas fermentation is one possible contributor to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. The conversion of industrial waste gas streams containing CO or H₂, which are usually combusted, directly reduces the emission of CO₂ into the atmosphere. Additionally, other carbon‐containing waste streams can be gasified, making them accessible for microbial conversion into platform chemicals. However, there is still a lack of detailed process understanding, as online monitoring of dissolved gas concentrations is currently not possible. Several studies have demonstrated growth inhibition of Clostridium ljungdahlii at high CO concentrations in the headspace. However, growth is not inhibited by the CO concentration in the headspace, but by the dissolved carbon monoxide tension (DCOT). The DCOT depends on the CO concentration in the headspace, CO transfer rate, and biomass concentration. Hence, the measurement of the DCOT is a superior method to investigate the toxic effects of CO on microbial fermentation. Since CO is a component of syngas, a detailed understanding is crucial. In this study, a newly developed measurement setup is presented that allows sterile online measurement of the DCOT. In an abiotic experiment, the functionality of the measurement principle was demonstrated for various CO concentrations in the gas supply (0%–40%) and various agitation rates (300–1100 min^?1). In continuous stirred tank reactor fermentation experiments, the measurement showed reliable results. The production of ethanol and 2,3‐butanediol increased with increasing DCOT. Moreover, a critical DCOT was identified, leading to the inhibition of the culture. Thus, the reported online measurement method is beneficial for process understanding. In future processes, it can be used for closed‐loop fermentation control.     

A thermodynamic analysis of electron production during syngas fermentation

Currently, syngas fermentation is being developed as one option towards the production of biofuels from biomass. This process utilizes the acetyl-CoA (Wood-Ljungdahl) metabolic pathway. Along the pathway, CO and CO₂ are used as carbon sources. Electrons required for the metabolic process are generated from H₂ and/or from CO. This study showed that electron production from CO is always more thermodynamically favorable compared to electron production from H₂ and this finding is independent of pH, ionic strength, gas partial pressure, and electron carrier pairs. Additionally, electron production from H₂ may be thermodynamically unfavorable in some experimental conditions. Thus, it is unlikely that H₂ can be utilized for electron production in favor of CO when both species are present. Therefore, CO conversion efficiency will be sacrificed during syngas fermentation since some of the CO will provide electrons at the expense of product and cell mass formation.     

13C-metabolic flux analysis of Clostridium ljungdahlii illuminates its core metabolism under mixotrophic culture conditions

Carbon dioxide-fixing acetogenic bacteria (acetogens) utilizing the Wood-Ljungdahl Pathway (WLP) play an important role in CO₂ fixation in the biosphere and in the development of biological processes – alone or in cocultures, under both autotrophic and mixotrophic conditions – for production of chemicals and fuels. To date, limited work has been reported in experimentally validating and quantifying reaction fluxes of their core metabolic pathways. Here, the core metabolic model of the acetogen Clostridium ljungdahlii was interrogated using ¹³C-metabolic flux analysis (¹³C-MFA), which required the development of a new defined culture medium. Autotrophic, heterotrophic, and mixotrophic growth in defined medium was possible by adding 1 mM methionine to replace yeast extract. Our ¹³C-MFA found an incomplete TCA cycle and inactive core pathways/reactions, notably those of the oxidative pentose phosphate pathway, Entner-Doudoroff pathway, and malate dehydrogenase. ¹³C-MFA during mixotrophic growth using the parallel tracers [1–¹³C]fructose, [1,2–¹³C]fructose, [1,2,3–¹³C]fructose, and [U–¹³C]asparagine found that externally supplied CO₂ contributed the majority of carbon consumed. All internally-produced CO₂ from the catabolism of asparagine and fructose was consumed by the WLP. While glycolysis of fructose was active, it was not a major contributor to overall production of ATP, NADH, and acetyl-CoA. Gluconeogenic reactions were active despite the availability of organic carbon. Asparagine was catabolized equally via conversion to threonine and subsequent cleavage to produce acetaldehyde and glycine, and via deamination to fumarate and then the anaplerotic conversion of malate to pyruvate. Both pathways for asparagine catabolism produced acetyl-CoA, either directly via pyruvate or indirectly via the WLP. Cofactor stoichiometry based on our data predicted an essentially zero flux through the ferredoxin-dependent transhydrogenase (Nfn) reaction. Instead, nearly all of NADPH generated from the hydrogenase reaction was consumed by the WLP. Reduced ferredoxin produced by the hydrogenase reaction and glycolysis was mostly used for ATP generation via the RNF/ATPase system, with the remainder consumed by the WLP. NADH produced by RNF/ATPase was entirely consumed via the WLP.     

Metabolism of One-Carbon Compounds by the Ruminal Acetogen Syntrophococcus sucromutans

Syntrophococcus sucromutans is the predominant species capable of O demethylation of methoxylated lignin monoaromatic derivatives in the rumen. The enzymatic characterization of this acetogen indicated that it uses the acetyl coenzyme A (Wood) pathway. Cell extracts possess all the enzymes of the tetrahydrofolate pathway, as well as carbon monoxide dehydrogenase, at levels similar to those of other acetogens using this pathway. However, formate dehydrogenase could not be detected in cell extracts, whether formate or a methoxyaromatic was used as electron acceptor for growth of the cells on cellobiose. Labeled bicarbonate, formate, [1-¹⁴C] pyruvate, and chemically synthesized O-[methyl-¹⁴C]vanillate were used to further investigate the catabolism of one-carbon (C₁) compounds by using washed-cell preparations. The results were consistent with little or no contribution of formate dehydrogenase and pointed out some unique features. Conversion of formate to CO₂ was detected, but labeled formate predominantly labeled the methyl group of acetate. Labeled CO₂ readily exchanged with the carboxyl group of pyruvate but not with formate, and both labeled CO₂ and pyruvate predominantly labeled the carboxyl group of acetate. No CO₂ was formed from O demethylation of vanillate, and the acetate produced was position labeled in the methyl group. The fermentation pattern and specific activities of products indicated a complete synthesis of acetate from pyruvate and the methoxyl group of vanillate.     

A genome-guided analysis of energy conservation in the thermophilic,cytochrome-free acetogenic bacterium Thermoanaerobacter?kivui

Background

Acetogenic bacteria are able to use CO₂ as terminal electron acceptor of an anaerobic respiration, thereby producing acetate with electrons coming from H₂. Due to this feature, acetogens came into focus as platforms to produce biocommodities from waste gases such as H₂ + CO₂ and/or CO. A prerequisite for metabolic engineering is a detailed understanding of the mechanisms of ATP synthesis and electron-transfer reactions to ensure redox homeostasis. Acetogenesis involves the reduction of CO₂ to acetate via soluble enzymes and is coupled to energy conservation by a chemiosmotic mechanism. The membrane-bound module, acting as an ion pump, was of special interest for decades and recently, an Rnf complex was shown to couple electron flow from reduced ferredoxin to NAD⁺ with the export of Na⁺ in Acetobacterium woodii. However, not all acetogens have rnf genes in their genome. In order to gain further insights into energy conservation of non-Rnf-containing, thermophilic acetogens, we sequenced the genome of Thermoanaerobacter kivui.

Results

The genome of Thermoanaerobacter kivui comprises 2.9 Mbp with a G + C content of 35% and 2,378 protein encoding orfs. Neither autotrophic growth nor acetate formation from H₂ + CO₂ was dependent on Na⁺ and acetate formation was inhibited by a protonophore, indicating that H⁺ is used as coupling ion for primary bioenergetics. This is consistent with the finding that the c subunit of the F₁F_O ATP synthase does not have the conserved Na⁺ binding motif. A search for potential H⁺-translocating, membrane-bound protein complexes revealed genes potentially encoding two different proton-reducing, energy-conserving hydrogenases (Ech).

Conclusions

The thermophilic acetogen T. kivui does not use Na⁺ but H⁺ for chemiosmotic ATP synthesis. It does not contain cytochromes and the electrochemical proton gradient is most likely established by an energy-conserving hydrogenase (Ech). Its thermophilic nature and the efficient conversion of H₂ + CO₂ make T. kivui an interesting acetogen to be used for the production of biocommodities in industrial micobiology. Furthermore, our experimental data as well as the increasing number of sequenced genomes of acetogenic bacteria supported the new classification of acetogens into two groups: Rnf- and Ech-containing acetogens.