Overexpression of Oxidoreductase YghA Confers Tolerance of Furfural in Ethanologenic Escherichia coli Strain SSK42

Abstract

Lignocellulosic biomass represents an inexhaustible source of carbon for second-generation biofuels. Thermo-acidic pretreatment of biomass is performed to loosen the lignocellulosic fibers and make the carbon bioavailable for microbial metabolism. The pretreatment process also results in the formation of inhibitors that inhibit microbial metabolism and increase production costs. Furfural is a potent furan inhibitor that increases the toxicity of other inhibitors present in the hydrolysate. Thus, it is desirable to engineer furfural tolerance in E. coli for efficient fermentation of hydrolysate sugars.

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